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by Bamber Gascoigne

Prolific translator and one of the most significant female novelists in Finland after World War II. During her long career, Pennanen dealt with religious movements, historical incidents, the female soul, and the rise of the Finnish working and middle class. Especially in her later novels, Pennanen paid attention to marginalized people, dominated by stronger persons. Her major work in the 1970s was the Tampere trilogy, HIMMUN RAKKAUDET (1971), KOREUDEN TÄHDEN (1972), and RUUSUKÖYNNÖS (1973), which partly drew on her own family history.

Thank you for these illusions,
thank you for fragile fancies,
this side up, handle with care.
Touch of reality,
now gentle, now unkind,
the true-life knocks and kicks
can never harm
illusion.
(from Thank You for These Illusions, 1970, transl. by Anne Fried)

Eila Pennanen was born in Tampere, the daughter of the factory director Hugo Pennanen and Hilma (Enegren) Pennanen. In her youth she read widely from detective novels to Shakespeare and Ibsen, and became enthusiastic about philosophy, Nietzsche, Brandes, Freud – but Marx was out of the question. After graduating from a secondary school in 1936, she entered the University of Helsinki, receiving her M.A. in 1940. In 1947 she completed her examination in librarianship.

During the Winter War (1939) and the Continuation War (1941-44), Pennanen was for a short time in labor service in Leppävirta and in the northern Karelia. From 1943 to 1948 she worked as an archivist, then at an advertising agency (1949-1951). From 1952 to 1955 she was the editor of the literature magazine Parnasso and from 1967 to 1978 she was a teacher at the University of Helsinki.

Pennanen wrote her first book, ENNEN SOTAA OLI NUORUUS (1942), rapidly after returning from Karelia. Its title, 'Berofe the war there was youth', summarized the experience of her generation. Partly the book drew on her experiences at the university. With this work Pennanen began her career as a writer which spanned fifty years. Her early works, KAADETUT PIHLAJAT (1944), a return to childhood, PROOMU LÄHTEE YÖLLÄ (1945), PILVET VYÖRYVÄT (1947), showed influenced by the Finnish literature of the thirties, but her style altered to reflect to reflect the changes in modern life. Pennanen's short story collections, TORNITALO (1952), PASIANSSI (1957), and PIENTÄ RAKKAUTTA (1969) examined the relationship of an individual and the society.

"Uskonto, seksuaalisuus, taide ovat kaikki ihmisen yksilöllisiä ilmaisuprosesseja. Uskonnonvapaus, seksualiteetin vapaus ja taiteen vapaus ovat individualistisia oikeuksia, ja näitten oikeuksien puute synnytti sellaisen kirjailijan, joka minä olin vuonna 1942." (from Miten kirjani ovat syntyneet, 1969)

In the 1950s Pennanen published historical novels. PYHÄ BIRGITTA (1954) depicted the medieval Swedish mystic Saint Birgitta, a widow and mother of eight children, who tries to persuade the pope to return to Rome from Avignon. Largely based on dialogue, it broke with the tradition of Finnish historical novels which center around adventures rather than individuals. VALON LAPSET (1958) focused on the birth of Quaker movement in the 17th-century England.

Pennanen followed social changes and currents through the experience of her insecure, bewildered characters. In the 1960s and '70s Pennanen dealt with restrained critic contemporary issues, often using the art of understatement. MONGOLIT (1966) took its subject from the bewilderment of the pre-war generation facing changes in their lives. The satirical NAISEN KUNNIA (1975) was set in the narrow literary circles, and the double novel KAPAKOITTEN MAA (1977) and LAPSUUDEN LUPAUS (1979) portrayed the decline of a business family and its alcoholozed younger members. The theme of alcoholism was also central in her radio play ÄITI JA POIKA (1979, Mother and Son).

Pennanen's most important work from the 1970s was the Tampere trilogy. It portrayed lower middle-class life from the late 19th-century to the to stormy social changes of the General Strike of 1905 and to parliamentary reform. The story, set in the rapidly developing town of Tampere, included among its characters actual historical figures and well as a number of the author's relatives. Her historical family story continued in SANTALAHDEN AIKA (1986), and KULMATALON PERHE (1988), bringing the events on the early independende years.

"Poems are written out of spontaneous emotions. Writing poetry is liberation self, is happiness, even if it originates in tragedy, is victory. Poems are music and joy, convey the strenght of peace, give new strenght of life." (Eila Pennanen in Thank You for These Illusions, 1970)

As a multifaceted and productive writer, Eila Pennanen wrote also essays, plays, and radio dramas. She wrote about Finnish classics, such Finnish authors of popular fiction as Mauri Sariola, and her favorite English-language writers E.M. Forster, Virginia Woolf, William Golding. Between the years 1952 and 1980 Pennanen published five expertly written collections of short stories. In the role of a translator she was 'omnivorous' – moving easily from Agatha Christie's mystery novels to modern African literature. Among her later, acclaimed works, were the first two volumes Tolkien's trilogy Lord of the Rings. Pennanen was a member of the National Council for Literature (1966-1970, 1974-76). She received several literary awards from her own works and translations, among them Aleksis Kivi Award in 1965. Pennanen died on January 23, 1994. Pennanen was married twice, first to Alpo Vammelvuo, a copy editor. They divorced in 1953. With her second husband, Juhani Jaskari, she translated into Finnish several works by Vladimir Nabokov.

Note: Eila Pennanen's cousin was the writer Jarno Pennanen. - For further reading: Suomalaisia kirjailijoita Jöns Buddesta Hannu Ahoon by Lasse Koskela (1990); Suomalaisia nykykirjailijoita by Pekka Tarkka (1989); Eila Pennanen - Reality versus Morality by Pekka Tarkka, in Books from Finland (3/1982); A History of Finnish Literature by Jaakko Ahokas (1973); Tervetultua tervemenoa by Jarno Pennanen (1970); Miten kirjani ovat syntyneet, ed. by Ritva Rainio (1969); A History of Finland's Literature, ed. by George C. Schoolfield (1998)

Selected works:

• ENNEN SOTAA OLI NUORUUS, 1942
• KAADETUT PIHLAJAT, 1944
• PROOMU LÄHTEE YÖLLÄ, 1945 - I natt drar hon bort (övers. 1946)
• PILVET VYÖRYVÄT, 1947
• LEDA JA JOUTSEN, 1948
• KATTOPARVEKE, 1950
• translator: Edith Unnerstadt, Näkinkenkätalo, 1950
• TORNITALO, 1952
• translator: Truman Capote, Ruohojen harppu, 1952
• translator: Jane Austen, Neito vanhassa linnassa, 1953
• translator: Agatha Christie, Lordin kuolema, 1953
• translator: E.M. Forster, Talo jalavan varjossa, 1953
• translator: Agatha Christue, Murha maalaiskylässä, 1954
• PYHÄ BIRGITTA, 1954 - Birgitta sierskan (övers. av Margaretha Holmqvist, 1957) - "Romaani kertoo merkillisen ruotsalaisen pyhimuksen, 1300-luvulla eläneen näkyjennäkijän Birgitan elämäntarinan. Päähenkilön luonnekuva on ansiokas: terävästipiirretty, ristiriitaisuudessaanja monipuolisuudessaan ajatuksia askarruttava, hämmästyttävän objesktiivisesti nähty... Jotain innotonta ja väsyttävää tässä romaanissa on, onnistuneesta loppuratkaisusta huolimatta." (Kai Laitinen in Arvosteleva kirjaluettelo 3/1955)
• translator: George Mikes, Über alles: "Tutkimusretki" Saksaan, 1954
• translator: Mazo de la Roche, Kosijoita Jalnassa, 1955
• translator: Anne Frank, Nuoren tytön päiväkirja, 1955
• translator: Olivia Manning, Rakkauden koulu, 1955
• translator: Agatha Christie, Salaperäiset rukiinjyvät, 1956
• translator: Margaret Kennedy, Oraakkelit, 1956
• translator: Alec Waugh, Aurinkosaari, 1956
• TUNNUSSANA YSTÄVYYS, 1956
• PASIANSSI, 1957
• translator: Agatha Christie, Neiti Lemon erehtyy, 1957
• translator: Lisa Tezner, ... mitä järvellä tapahtui, 1957
• translator (with Juhani Jaskari): Alfred Hayes, Rakastunut, 1958
• VALON LAPSET, 1958
• translator: Mazo de la Roche, Juhlat Jalnassa, 1958
• translator: Gustave Flaubert & Barbara Bray, Yksinkertainen sydän, 1959 (radio play)
• translator: J. Christopher Herold, Aikakautensa valtiatar, 1959
• translator (with Juhani Jaskari): Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita, 1959
• translator: Jane Austen & A.A. Milne, Ylpeys ja ennakkoluulo, 1960 (radio play)
• translator: Mazo de la Roche, Jalnan synty, 1960
• translator: Elaine Dundy, Neitsyt Pariisissa, 1960
• translator: Pär Lagervist, Ahasveruksen kuolema, 1960
• translator (with Juhani Jaskari): Vladimir Nabokov, Sebastian Knightin todellinen elämä, 1960
• KYLMÄT KASVOT, 1960 (radio play)
• translator: Graham Greene: Loppuun palanut, 1961
• translator: Gunnar E. Sandgren, Kirkastusvuori, 1961
• translator: Anton Tšehov & David Tutajev, Mies joka myi vaimonsa, 1961 (radio play)
• translator (with Juhanin Jaskari): Vladimir Nabokov, Nabokovin tusina, 1961
• KAKSIN, 1961
• translator: Stephen Crane & H.A.L. Craig, Punainen kunniamerkki, 1962 (radio play)
• translator: Mazo de la Roche, Jalnan aamu, 1962
• translator: Pär Lagerkvist, Pyhiinvaeltaja merellä, 1962
• translator (with Pertti Nieminen): Lin Jutang, Ymmärtämisen taito, 1962
• translator (with Juhani Jaskari): Naurua pimeässä, 1962
• translator (with Juhani Jaskari): Elizabeth Spencer, Myöhäinen vieras, 1962
• MUTTA, 1963
• translator: Iris Murdoch, Epävirallinen ruusu, 1963
• translator: Dagny Staaf-Busch, Nuoriso-ongelma ja ongelmanuoriso, 1963
• translator (with Juhani Jaskari): Vladimir Nabokov, Nikolai Gogol, 1963
• translator (with Juhani Jaskari): Irving Stone, Michelangelo, 1963
• translator: Annette Garrett, Haastattelun periaatteet ja menetelmät, 1964
• translator: Marlen Haushofer, Seinä, 1964
• translator: Iris Murdoch, Yksisarvinen, 1964
• translator: Hans Ruin, Avoin ja suljettu käsi, 1964
• TUNNUSTELUA, 1965
• translator: Pär Lagerkvist, Pyhä maa, 1965
• translator: Editha Morris, Hirošiman kylvö, 1965
• translator: Asko Rysä & Gunnar Mårtenson & Paul Nyberg, Vanha Porvoo, 1965
• translator (with Aale Tynni): Mary Mccarthy, Lumottu elämä, 1965
• translator (with Juhani Jaskari and Mikko Kilpi): Rudyard Kipling, Viidakkokirjat, 1965
• AURINKOMATKA, 1966 (play)
• translator (with Kirsi Kunnas): Kingsley Amis & Robert Conquest, Herrasmieskerho, 1966
• translator (with Tuula Saarikoski): Brendan Behan, Kuolemaantuomittu, 1966 (radio play)
• translator: Robert van Gulik, Kummitusluostari, 1966
• translator: Iris Murdoch, Italialaistyttö, 1966
• translator: George Orwell, Eläinten farmi, 1966 (radio play)
• MONGOLIT, 1966 - "Suurisuuntainen ja lähes onnistunut yritys kirjoittaa suomalaisen 'sivistyneistön' kuvaus, joka olisi mahdollisimman nykyaikainen." (Hannu Mäkelä in Arvosteleva kirjaluettelo 1/1967)
• translator: Oliver Goldsmith, Hyväluontoinen mies, 1967 (radio play)
• translator: Aidan Higgins, Suku sammuu, 1967
• translator: John Megahern, Pimeä, 1967
• translator: Rex Stout, Ovikello soi, 1967
• translator: Ted Willis, Kuuman kesän ilta, 1967 (radio play)
• translator (with Kirsi Kunnas): Bertrand Russel, Elämäni 1: 1872-1914, 1967
• TILAPÄÄ, 1968
• PIENTÄ RAKKAUTTA, 1969 - "Eila Pennanen on harvinainen esimerkki koko ajan muuttuvasta ja monipuolistuvasta kirjailijasta, jolle aseman vakiintuminen ei merkitse jarrua: 'Pientä rakkautta' on syksyn parhaita kirjoja, samalla kertaa hellä, ironinenja oivaltava." (Risto Hannula in Arvosteleva kirjaluettelo, 1/1970)
• translator: Chinua Achebe, Kansan mies, 1969
• translator: Iris Murdoch, Enkelten aika, 1969
• translator: John Whiting, Paholaiset, 1969 (play)
• translator: Peter Luke, Hadrianus seitsemäs, 1969-70 (play)
• translator: Saul Bellow, Mr Sammlerin planeetta, 1970
• KAUAN SITTEN, 1970
• KIITOS HARHALUULOISTA, 1970 - Thank You for These Illusions: Poems by Finnish Women Writers (transl. and ed. by Anne Fried, 1981)
• TILAPÄÄ, 1970 (TV play)
• translator: Oliver Goldsmith, Yhden yön erheet, 1970-71 (play)
• translator: Graham Hough, Kirjallisuus ja tutkimus, 1971
• HIMMUN RAKKAUDET, 1971
• KULTAISET LEIJONANKÄPÄLÄT, 1971 (radio play) - De förgyllda lejontassarna (övers. av Karin Mandelstam, 1972)
• KOREUDEN TÄHDEN, 1972
• RUUSUKÖYNNÖS, 1973
• VALITUT NOVELLIT, 1973
• translator (with Kersti Juva): J.R.R. Tolkien, Taru sormusten herrasta 1: Sormuksen ritarit, 1974
• translator (with Kersti Juva): J.R.R. Tolkien, Taru sormusten herrasta 2: Kaksi tornia, 1974
• translator (with Riitta Hakulinen, Hanno Vammelvuo): Patricia Highsmith, Syvissä vesissä, 1974
• RUUSUKÖYNNÖS, 1974-1975 (drama)
• NAISEN KUNNIA, 1975
• YHDESSÄ, 1975 (radio play) - Tillsammans (övers. av Agneta Ara)
• translator (with Riitta Hakulinen): Mary Westmacott, Kaksi rakkautta, 1976
• MUSTAN KATIN RAKKAUS, 1976
• translator: Sven Fagerberg, Pesäyö, 1976
• translator (with others): Catherine Aird, Henrietta kuka lienetkin, 1976
• MINISTERI MURHATAAN, 1976-77
• KAPAKOITTEN MAA, 1977
• ÄITI JA POIKA, 1977 (radio play) - Mor och son (övers. av Tove Idström, 1978)
• PETTÄJÄT, 1978N (radio play)
• translator: Märta Tikkanen, Vuosisadan rakkaustarina, 1978
• translator: Moa Martinson, Äiti menee naimisiin, 1978
• translator: Rex Stout, Liian monta kokkia, 1979
• LAPSUUDEN LUPAUS, 1979
• ÄITI JA POIKA JA MUITA KUUNNELMIA, 1979
• SE PIENI ÄÄNI, 1980
• translator: Tove Jansson, Nukkekaappi ja muita kertomuksia, 1980
• translator: Saul Bellow, Sadekuningas, 1980
• translator (with Hanno Vammelvuo): Margaret Millar, Kysykää minua huomenna, 1980
• translator (with Hanno Vammelvuo): Rex Stout, Oikeus kuolla, 1980
• translator: Märta Tikkanen, Pimeä ilon syvyys, 1981
• translator (with Hanno Vammelvuo): William Golding, Merimatka, 1981
• translator: Bernard Malamud, Dubinin elämät, 1981
• screenplay (with Pirjo Hokkanen, Erkko Kivikoski): Yö meren rannalla, 1981 (film prod. by Filmiauer, dir. by Erkko Kivikoski, starring Pertti Palo, Sirkku Grahyn, Pauli Virtanen, Eeva Eloranta)
• TYTTÖ JOKA RAKASTI RAUHAA, 1982 (radio play)
• translator: Märta Tikkanen & Katarina Michelsson, Sofian oma kirja, 1982
• KIRJAILIJATAR JA HÄNEN MIEHENSÄ, 1982 (radio plays)
• NAIVISTIT, 1982
• translator (with Hanno Vammelvuo): Mary McMullen, Voi Nellie-kulta, 1983
• TYTTÖ JA RUMPU, 1983 (radio play)
• translator (with others): Agatha Christie, Kolmetoista, 1983
• translator (with Hanno Vammelvuo): William Boyd, Kelpo mies Afrikassa, 1983
• translator: William Boyd, Jäätelösota, 1984
• translator: Bernard Malamud, Jumalan armo, 1984
• editor: Tito Colliander, Ikkuna, 1984 (translated by Kyllikki Härkäpää)
• translator: William Golding, Perilliset, 1985
• KUKKALAPSI, 1985
• translator: Märta Tikkanen, Punahilkka, 1986
• translator: Nadine Gordimer, Perjantain jalanjälki, 1986
• SANTALAHDEN AIKA, 1986
• translator: Peter Nilsson, Naulatkin kultaa, 1987
• KULMATALON PERHE, 1988
• LUETTUA, LÄHEISTÄ, 1990
• translator: Tove Jansson, Seuraleikki, 1991
• translator (with Hanno Vammelvuo): William Golding, Laiva tulessa, 1991
• translator (with Satu Mattila): Lars Huldén, Kun kuningatar Silvia itki ja muita kertomuksia, 1991
• translator: Emily Brontë, Humiseva harju, 1991
• translator; Rex Stout, Yli kuolleen ruumiini, 1992
• translator (with Hanno Vammelvuo): William Golding, Laskusilta, 1990
• TYTTÖLAPSI, 1992
• translator: Rex Stout, Missä on testamentti, 1993
• translator (with Hanno Vammelvuo): Rex Stout, Toinen tunnustus, 1994