Sofi Oksanen

Sofi Oksanen
Sofi-Elina Oksanen (born 7 January 1977) is a Finnish writer and playwright. Oksanen has published six novels, of which "Purge" has gained the widest recognition. She has received several international and domestic awards for her literary work. Her work has been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than two million copies. Oksanen has been called "Finnish-Estonian Charles Dickens" and her work has often been compared to Margaret Atwood's novels. Oksanen is actively involved in public debate in Finland and comments on current issues in her columns and various talk shows.
Early years and education
Sofi-Elina Oksanen was born in Jyväskylä in central Finland, where she grew up in the Halssila district. Her father is a Finnish electrician. Her mother is an Estonian engineer who grew up in Estonia during the Soviet occupation and upon the marriage was able to move to Finland in the 1970s. Oksanen studied literature at the University of Jyväskylä and University of Helsinki and later drama at the Finnish Theatre Academy in Helsinki.
Career
Oksanen's first play "Purge" (Puhdistus) was staged at the Finnish National Theatre in 2007. From out of the play grew Oksanen's third novel "Purge" (2008). It ranked number 1 on the bestseller list for fiction in Finland when it was published and has received numerous awards, both in Finland and abroad.
The play "Purge'" had its American première at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, in New York City, on 10 February 2011. The text was translated by Eva Buchwald and the production directed by Zishan Ugurlu.
From October 2011, the play was produced in 15 countries, with productions in Norway, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Lithuania, Germany, Ukraine, and Hungary. It premiered in London at the Arcola Theatre from 22 February to 24 March with a new production directed by Elgiva Field. In Canada it premiered in 2021.
The novel has been adapted into a film – see "Purge" (2012) – directed by Antti Jokinen, selected as the Finnish entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards.
"Purge" was adapted into an opera, composed by Jüri Reinvere, and it premiered at Finnish National Opera in 2012.
Her novel "Baby Jane" has also been adapted into an opera "Baby Jane". The composer is Markus Kärki. Helsingin Sanomat called it an opera event of the season.
In 2012, Oksanen published a map of Soviet Gulag prison camps, drawn by Niilo Koljonen, in the National Audiovisual Archive.
Her fourth novel "When the Doves Disappeared" (Kun kyyhkyset katosivat) was published on 31 August 2012 and it was the most sold Finnish novel of the year. The title refers to German soldiers catching and eating all the pigeons in Tallinn during the Nazi German occupation of Estonia during World War II.
The book was translated into English by Lola Rogers: "When the Doves Disappeared: A novel". (Knopf, 2015. .)
Oksanen wrote a libretto for Kaija Saariaho´s opera "Innocence." The world premiere was scheduled for 2020 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in London, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The opera had its world premiere on July 3, 2021 at the Grand Théâtre de Provence as part of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence. The opera was called a "triumph" and a "masterpiece" in the press, and its international reception was overwhelmingly positive. Le Monde said it already has a place in the history of opera. Oksanen's libretto was described masterly, innovative, palpitating and thrilling. Les Echos reviewed the libretto perfect for stage and said: "From the libretto to the staging, everything promises this dark and strong work a great future in the biggest international theaters." The magazine "Transfuge" praised Oksanen's libretto for it remarkable format and chilling efficiency: "Each character has its identity, its language, its drama, its specter." After the world premiere the opera will travel to Finland's National Opera, Dutch National Opera, Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) and San Francisco Opera House.
Oksanen has also written numerous articles published in international newspapers. The topics are often related to freedom of speech, women's rights, Russian politics, information war, immigration and Finlandization. In 2014, Die Welt published her article about information war from the point of view of former Eastern Bloc countries.
Her novel, "Norma", translated by Owen F. Witesman, was published in English by Knopf in the US, Atlantic in the UK and House of Anansi in Canada.
Oksanen's novel "The Dog Park" came out in English in 2021 published by Knopf in the US, Atlantic in the UK and House of Anansi in Canada. The translator was Owen F. Witesman.
Two of her novels have been adapted into movies, "Purge" and "Baby Jane". The movie rights for "When the Doves Disappeared" and "Stalin's Cows" have been acquired.
Personal life
Sofi Oksanen and her husband, Juha Korhonen, were married in 2011 in Helsinki.
Works
Novels
Stalin's Cows (original title Stalinin lehmät, published in Finnish 2003)
Baby Jane (original title Baby Jane, published in Finnish 2005)
Purge (original title Puhdistus, published in Finnish 2007)
When the Doves Disappeared (original title Kun Kyyhkyset katosivat, published in Finnish 2012)
Norma (original title Norma, published in Finnish 2015)
The Dog Park (original title Koirapuisto, published in Finnish 2019)
Plays
The Blue-cheeked girls (original title Siniposkiset tytöt, 2005)
Purge (original title Puhdistus, the world premiere at the Finnish National Theatre, 2007)
When the Doves Disappeared (original title Kun kyyhkyset katosivat, the world premiere at the Finnish National Theatre, 2013)
I love you already (original title Rakastan sinua jo nyt, 2017)
Lyrics/Poems
Too short skirt – tales from the kitchen (original title Liian lyhyt hame - kertomuksia keittiöstä, 2011)
Libretto
Innocence – opera by Kaija Saariaho, world premiere 2021 at the festival Aix-en-Provence
Essays in English
A Lion in a Cage, Eurozine, 19.5.2015
What's it like to write about Russia, 14.6.2016, UpNorth
Your silence will not protect you, 28.2.2018, UpNorth
My family knew all about iron curtain: it's vital to protect our right to speak out, The Guardian, 30.5.2018
A Soviet shadow looms over the Putin-Trump summit in Helsinki, The Guardian, 11.7.2018
Social media can work as life insurance for Navalny, Found Me, 5.2.2021
Awards
Finlandia Prize, Finland, 2008
The Kristiina of the year, Kristiina-institute, Finland, 2008
The Mika Waltari Award, Finland, 2008
The Great Finnish Book Club Prize, Finland, 2008
The SSKK Recognition Award, Finland, 2008
The Kalevi Jäntti Award, Finland, 2008
Runeberg Prize, Finland, 2009
The Person of the Year, Postimees, Estonia, 2009
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, Estonia, 2010
Nordic Council Literature Prize (2010) for Puhdistus
The Prix Femina Ètranger, France, 2010
The Prix du Roman FNAC, France, 2010
The European Book Prize, EU, 2010
The French Booksellers Prize, France, 2012
The Order of the Lion of Finland, the Pro Finlandia, Finland, 2012
The Budapest Grand Prize, Hungary, 2013
The Swedish Academy Nordic Prize, Sweden, 2013
Wolmar Schildt Award, Finland, 2015
Premio Salerno Libro d'Europa, Italy, 2015
Chevalier Medal of Honour by Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France, 2018
Nominations
The Helsingin Sanomat Prize for the best debutant novel, Finland, 2003
Runeberg Prize, Finland, 2004
Prix Médicis, France, 2010
The Dublin International Literary Award (IMPAC), Ireland, 2012
The Dublin International Literary Award (IMPAC), Ireland, 2017
The Ambassador of Finnish Culture (The Culture Gala of the Century), Finland, 2017
The New Academy Prize in Literature, Sweden, 2018
Fedora Opera Prize, 2021
References
External links
Official site
Kun kyyhkyset katosivat, When the Doves Disappeared
What Westerners weren't supposed to see
29. May 2012, Sofi Oksanen's New Book to Break Printing Record, news
30. August 2012, Sofi Oksanen: Tiet keskitysleireille on kivetty hyvillä aikomuksilla
31. August 2012, Puhdistuksen ensi-ilta keräsi tähdet punaiselle matolle
1977 births
Living people
People from Jyväskylä
Finnish people of Estonian descent
Finnish dramatists and playwrights
Finnish women novelists
Writers from Central Finland
21st-century Finnish novelists
Finnish women dramatists and playwrights
Finlandia Prize winners
Nordic Council Literature Prize winners
Prix Femina Étranger winners
21st-century Finnish women writers
Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 4th Class
Women librettists