Rakel Liehu
Rakel Liehu | |
|---|---|
 Liehu in 2010 | |
| Born | September 3, 1939 Nivala, Finland |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | Finnish |
| Alma mater | University of Helsinki |
| Years active | 1974 — present |
| Notable works | Helene (2003) |
| Notable awards |
|
Rakel Liehu (born 3 September 1939) is a Finnish poet, dramatist and novelist.[1][2]
Works[edit]
Liehu began writing poetry at the age of 11, inspired by the works of women poets such as Aila Meriluoto, and has since gone on to publish 13 poetry collections.[3][4][2]
She has also authored three novels, as well as two plays and various scripts.[4][2]
Her debut poetry collection, Ihmisen murhe on yhteinen (lit. 'The Grief of a Person is Shared'), came out in 1974, and her first novel, Seth Mattsonin tarina ('The Story of Seth Mattson'), in 1976.[2]
Her perhaps best-known work is Helene (2003), a novel about the life of the Finnish artist Helene Schjerfbeck, which won the 2004 Runeberg Prize.[1][3] It formed the basis of the 2020 film by the same name, directed by Antti Jokinen and starring Laura Birn as Schjerfbeck,[4][5] which was nominated for an award in the feature-length category at the Shanghai International Film Festival.[6]
Her latest novel, Valaanluiset koskettimet (2020) ('Whale Bone Keys') is strongly autobiographical.[3]
Her other notable works include the novel Punainen ruukku ('Red Pot') (1980), and the essay collection Sininen kala ('Blue Fish') (1999).[1]
Awards and honours[edit]
In 2004, Liehu won the Runeberg Prize with Helene.[4][7]
In 2006, she was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.[4][8]
In 2008, Liehu received the Finnish State Literature Prize (Kirjallisuuden valtionpalkinto).[4][9]
Personal life[edit]
Aged five, Rakel Liehu contracted pneumonia, which killed her younger sister.[2] She herself survived, but suffered from resultant ill health all her childhood, missing much of school while needing to convalesce; it was during that time that she became interested in poetry.[2]
Liehu graduated from the University of Helsinki in 1963, after which she worked briefly as a teacher of Finnish and history at a secondary school in Raahe.[10]
She was married until the death of her husband in 2008, with three children.[2] Liehu lives in the Kruununhaka district of central Helsinki.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Liehu, Rakel". Uppslagsverket.fi (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Rakel Liehu julkaisi pääteoksensa 64-vuotiaana – Helene Schjerfbeckin elämästä kertova romaani oli myynti- ja arvostelumenestys" [Rakel Liehu published her main work at 64 - Helene Schjerfbeck biography was critically acclaimed bestseller] (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "Rakel Liehun Valaanluiset koskettimet kertoo runoilijan omakohtaisen kasvukertomuksen – kiehtovasti pianon näkökulmasta" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 25 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Kirjailijakohtaaminen: Miksi Rakel Liehu sukelsi Helene Schjerfbeckin mieleen?" (in Finnish). Seura. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Helene (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Antti J. Jokisen Helene-elokuva on valittu ehdolle kansainvälisen elokuvafestivaalin kilpasarjaan" (in Finnish). Keski-Uusimaa. STT. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Author Rakel Liehu Wins Runeberg Prize". Yle. 5 February 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Kymmenen taiteilijaa sai Pro Finlandia -mitalin" (in Finnish). Yle. 30 November 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Kirjallisuuden valtionpalkinnot menivät konkareille" (in Finnish). Yle. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Rakel Liehu" (in Finnish). WSOY. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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