Over the last thirty years, Claes Andersson (b. 1937), Finland-Swedish poet, esteemed jazz-pianist and psychiatrist, has published some twenty collections of poems, novels and plays, the latest En lycklig mänska (A lucky person) came out in 1996. His social conscience, combined with the poet's precise expression and self-irony, makes him one of the foremost poetic voices in Finland. His poetry has been translated into numerous languages, including English, Spanish, German, French and Russian. Furthermore, he served as a Minister of Culture from 1995 until 1998. In 2000, he published memoirs entitled Mina tolv politiska år (My twelve years in politics).

Photo: Boris Fagerström