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FILI FAQ – Everything you ever wanted to know about the translation and promotion of Finnish literature

 

 

Which languages is Finnish literature translated into the most, and which the least?

 

Translations into German predominate. From 2002 to 2007, no fewer than 184 titles were translated into German. Norwegian and English, on the other hand, are problematic language areas, because there simply aren’t enough translators. The English-language market is also challenging. In the U.S. and Great Britain, only 1 to 2 percent of books published are translations. Translations into more exotic languages over the last few years include Faroese (Mauri Kunnas’ Joulupukki [Santa Claus] among others), Arabic (Leena Lander’s Tummien perhosten koti, [The home of the dark butterflies] and others), and Korean (Arto Paasilinna’s Hirtettyjen kettujen metsä [The forest of hanged foxes] and others).

 

What writers or genres are being translated the most right now?

 

Among Finnish writers, Arto Paasilinna is constantly being translated into new languages. There is tremendous interest in his work in France, in particular. French critics have, in fact, even coined a new genre term to describe Paasilinna’s work; the “ecological novel”. The writings of Mika Waltari and Tove Jansson have achieved the status of classics, and their works are continuously in print. All three of these writers have been translated into over 30 languages. In addition to Paasilinna, other popular contemporary writers include Kari Hotakainen, Monika Fagerholm, Leena Lander, Anja Snellman, and Daniel Katz. Among children’s authors, Mauri Kunnas is the most translated.

 

There has long been a mystery boom in Germany, and in recent years Leena Lehtolainen, Pertti Kirstilä, Outi Pakkanen, and many other mystery writers have enjoyed success there. Matti Rönkä’s first German translation reached the top of the critics’ list of favorites in the summer of 2007. Matti Yrjänä Joensuu is the most translated author in the genre. Another nation-specific upward trend is the success of Finnish comics in France.

 

Contemporary Finnish poetry, which at the moment is very multi-faceted and of an especially high quality, is another, less commercial phenomenon. Translations of poetry appear abundantly in anthologies and literary journals.

 

Another boom that is worth mentioning is Johanna Sinisalo’s novel Ennen päivänlaskua ei voi (Not Before Sundown), which has in a very short time been translated into 15 languages. Five different publishers, in fact, competed for the rights to publish a translation of this novel. Kari Hotakainen’s Juoksuhaudantie (The Trench Road) has been translated into numerous languages since the novel won the Nordic Council’s Literature Prize in 2004. Then there are also some first novels such as Elina Hirvonen’s Että hän muistaisi saman (When I Forgot) and Ranya Paasonen’s Auringon asema (The Position of the Sun) which have been widely translated. This is quite a new phenomenon.

 

The basis for all translations is quality, because bad writing simply doesn’t sell. The competition in the literary marketplace is incredible, particularly when you take into account how many books are published in the world.

 

What is Finland’s most translated book?

 

The Kalevala, Finland’s national epic. It has been translated into over 60 different languages. Taking all of the various translations and translated adaptations together, there are over 200. A large number of Kalevala translations are made from the original Finnish, but but many have also been based on existing translations in the large world languages, such as English, German, and Russian.

 

On the top-10 list of the most translated Finnish books you’ll also find Mika Waltari’s Sinuhe Egyptiläinen (The Egyptian), Tove Jansson’s Trollkarlens hatt (Finn Family Moomintroll), Arto Paasilinna’s Jäniksen vuosi (The Year of the Hare), Märta Tikkanen’s Århundreadets kärleksaga (The Love Story of the Century), and Mauri Kunnas’ Joulupukki (Santa Claus). It’s difficult to put them in order, however, because no hard numbers are available.

 

How many translations of Finnish literature are published each year? Have there been any changes in the number of translations, and, if so, why?

 

Every year there are more translations published – approximately 200 titles in 40 different languages to date. Translations provide an increasingly multi-voiced image of Finland and thus reach many different kinds of international readers. There are at least two reasons for this increase: membership in the EU has had a noticeable impact on increasing knowledge of Finland abroad, and contemporary marketing of literature has become more professional. As development continues in the right direction, success begins to feed on itself.

 

What kinds of publishers publish Finnish literature?

 

There has been a big change in the profile of the publishers of Finnish literature: contemporary Finnish literature is published by larger, more professional publishers than it was even just 10 years ago. There was a time when Finnish writers were promoted almost entirely by small publishing houses, university presses, and other non-commercial entities.

 

What interesting new translations have been published recently, or are soon to be published?

 

One example is a direct Saami-to-French translation of Nils-Aslak Valkeapää’s three-part poetry collection that will appear in 2008, which is a real cultural achievement. And the Arabic translation of  Leena Lander’s novel Tummien perhosten koti just appeared in 2007, to wide acclaim.

 

Are translators available for Finnish literature, and what are they like?

 

At the moment there are many promising recently graduated young translators with varied motives for choosing translation as a profession. Interest in the profession seems to have grown, but there are still not enough translators, in any country. This is a large and unavoidable problem.

 

How does a Finnish book reach a foreign market?

There are, of course, many different ways that can happen. Typically, FILI or the book’s publisher presents it to dozens of foreign publishing houses at book fairs or other meetings before someone finally takes an interest in it. A sample translation from the book and a synopsis are  written, and based on these, the foreign publisher makes a decision. Then a contract is written between the publishers and between the publisher and translator, and an application is made for a FILI grant for translation and/or printing support. The last stage in the process is the promotion of the book. Here, too, FILI can help. For example, they can send writers to appear at events connected with the book’s publication.

 

Quite often translators also act as “agents” for Finnish literature and present their own favorite books to publishers in their home countries. Naturally, prizes and large sales figures also stimulate publishers’ interest.

 

What means does FILI use to promote Finnish literature abroad?

 

FILI promotes literary exports by approving translation and printing grants, by training and supporting translators, and by making Finnish literature better known in the world. Their activities involve organizing and integrating visits from writers and publishers, creating promotional materials, and participating in book fairs and literary events. FILI also works in close cooperation with the Finnish Literature Society’s literary journal Books from Finland and maintains a database of Finnish literature in translation in cooperation with the Finnish Literature Society library. FILI also Finnish literature abroad through its special projects resources.

 

How many translations does FILI support each year?

 

In 2007, FILI provided financial support for 174 translations of Finnish literature into other languages. There were also grants for 57 translations into Finnish. Taken together, 510,000 euros in grants were distributed.

 

Does FILI have any special areas of activity or support?

 

FILI has a very holistic view of literature: for example comics, nonfiction, poetry, and novels are all literature. FILI’s special projects for children’s literature have proven very successful, and in the future FILI will be investing particularly in comics and nonfiction.

 

What is the economic impact of literary exports from Finland?

 

It is estimated that in 2006 Finnish literature published abroad earned between 500,000 and 900,000 euros in royalties.

 

What are the challenges and opportunities for promoting Finnish literature?

 

The promotion of Finnish literature abroad grows more organized and professional every day; FILI has been continuously active for over 30 years and the support it provides is well known around the world. Many Finnish publishers have their own Foreign Rights departments or managers, who are promoting their publications abroad, and nowadays even three Finnish literary agencies are promoting Finnish literature abroad.

 

The number of translators is a challenge. There simply should be more of them.

 

All in all, however, a threshold has been crossed in literature today, our efforts to promote Finnish literature have started to bear fruit, and success feeds success.