Juhani Salokannel

Juhani Salokannel (full name Juhani Olavi Akseli Salokannel, b. 28. VI 1946) is a Finnish writer, translator and literary scholar. He has performed great services as a translator and interpreter of Estonian literature.

He was born in Mikkeli, Finland, attended Hämeenlinna Gymnasium and graduated from the University of Helsinki in 1971. In 1973 he obtained the degree of Master of Philosophy. He was an editor and head of department at the Gummerus publishing house from 1972 to 1979. Thereafter, from 1980 to 1986, he was editor in chief of the elite literary journal Parnasso, and from 1997 to 2000 executive director of the Finnish Institute in Estonia. From 2005 to 2012 he was executive director of the Tuglas Society in Finland.

Salokannel has published several short story collections, novels and works of cultural history. His main achievement in prose is the novel Samaa sukua ('The Same Breed', 2003). He has written monographs about Jaan Kross (2008) and A.H. Tammsaare (2017). In his essays he has dealt with classics of world literature, and compiled extensive anthologies of essays, Kirjojen kirja ('The Book of Books', 1995) and Kirjojen Suomi ('The Finland of Books', 1996).

Salokannel has translated into Finnish works by Ülo Tuulik, Jaan Kaplinski, Toomas Vint, Jaan Kross, Lennart Meri, Emil Tode, Viivi Luik, Jaak Jõerüüt, Hasso Krull, Uku Masing, Tõnu Õnnepalu and other Estonian writers, including A.H. Tammsaare’s Tõde ja Õigus ('Truth and Justice').

In 1987 Salokannel was awarded the Finnish state prize for his translations. In 1994 he was granted the Literature Endowment annual award for his translations into Finnish of Jaan Kross’ novel Tabamatus ('The Unattainable') and Emil Tode’s novel Piiririik ('Border State'). In 2001 he was awarded the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, IV class. In 2009 he was rewarded with the Virumaa literature prize for his monograph on the work of Jaan Kross, and in 2014 the Jaan Kross literature prize for the translation of the novel Tõde ja Õigus into Finnish.

L. P. (Translated by C. M.)

Books in Finnish

Novels
Pitkä nuoruus. Porvoo: WSOY, 1985. 250 lk.
Leikkiä kaikki. Espoo: Weilin+Göös, 1987. 190 lk.
Pelastaja. Helsinki: Otava, 1990. 250 lk.

Short stories
Vieraalla maalla: kuusi novellia. Porvoo: WSOY, 1983. 152 lk.
Avarakatseinen mies. Helsinki: Otava, 1991. 204 lk.

Literary studies
Linnasta Saarikoskeen: suomalaisia kirjailijakuvia. Porvoo: WSOY, 1993. 473 lk.
Sielunsilta: Suomen ja Viron kirjallisia suhteita 1944–1988. Helsinki: Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura, 1998. 310 lk.
Sivistytahto: Jaan Kross, hänen teoksensa ja virolaisuus. Helsinki: WSOY, 2008. 506 lk.
Nuoren Viron omatunto: kansalliskirjailija A. H. Tammsaare. Tampere: Vastapaino, 2017. 271 lk.

Travel writing
Eva Lille, Juhani Salokannel, Neljä päivää Virossa: kulttuurimatkailijan kirja. Porvoo: WSOY, 1989. 239 lk.

Miscellaneous
Tuusulanjärven taiteilijaelämää. Teksti: Juhani Salokannel. Kuvat: Juhani Seppovaara. Helsinki: Otava, 2006. 159 lk.

Books in Estonian

Novels
Päästja. Soome keelest tõlkinud ja järelsõna: Sirje Kiin. Tallinn: Perioodika (Loomingu Raamatukogu), 1994, 157 lk. ['Pelastaja'.]

Non-fiction
Jaan Kross. Soome keelest tõlkinud Piret Saluri. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2009, 542 lk. ['Sivistystahto. Jaan Kross, hänen teoksensa ja virolaisuus'.]
Noore Eesti südametunnistus. Rahvuskirjanik A. H. Tammsaare. Soome keelest tõlkinud Piret Saluri. Tallinn: EKSA, 2019, 288 lk. ['Nuoren Viron omatunto. Kansalliskirjailija A. H. Tammsaare'.