Vainajaiset is linguistically unique, the jury judged. Kyllönen’s previous novel was published in 2001.
Writer, Master of Philosophy Marja Kyllönen was awarded the Runeberg Literature Prize. OUTI PAAPPANEN
Marja Kyllönen received the literary Runeberg prize for his novel Vainajaiset, published by Teos.
The deceased were chosen from a total of ten candidates. The jury that chose the winner included a writer Johanna Hulkkothe critic Vesa Beach and editor Camilla Lindberg.
“Linguistically unique”
Vainajaiset is linguistically unique and finds its building material in folklore, horror and Kainuu, the jury judged.
– Kyllönen is a prose virtuoso whose conjured sentences could not be confused with those written by anyone else, the jury praises.
The Runeberg Literature Prize has been awarded since 1986. The prize amount is 20,000 euros. The prize is awarded annually in Porvoo on Runeberg Day.
A break of more than 20 years
Vainajaiset is Kyllönen’s third novel. Kyllönen’s previous novel Rikot was published in 2001.
There was a gap of more than twenty years between the publication of the second and third novels.
– Writing this has taken quite a large part of my life, Kyllönen said Ilta-Sanom in an interview in September.
– When my third novel was rejected in 2006, I was devastated. I didn’t offer it anywhere because I was ashamed, Kyllönen told IS.
Kyllönen’s debut book Lyijyuuma (WSOY) received praise in 1997, when the author was only 22 years old.
– Lyijyuuma is a cross between the tradition of the family novel and the great literary tradition, a significant achievement, the reasons for the Helsingin Sanomat literature award said at the time.