Pentti Holappa (b. 1927) is the author of an extensive and multi-faceted oeuvre comprising poems, novels, plays, essays and journalism. His novel Ystävän muotokuva (Portrait of a Friend) was awarded the Finlandia Prize in 1998. It is due to appear shortly in French and German. His poems have been published in Gallimard's esteemed Poésie series. Holappa is also known as a translator of modern French literature into Finnish. In addition to being a writer, he is also a politician, who served as a second minister of culture and education in 1972.

Photo: Irmeli Jung