Annika Idström (12 November 1947, Helsinki — 20 September 2011, Helsinki) was a Finnish author, dramaturg, and translator. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Ilse Annika Idström [2] was born to a Swedish-speaking family in Helsinki, and went to school at the private, Swedish language Laguska Skolan, graduating in 1968. [1]
Afterwards, she studied scriptwriting at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (now part of the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture), graduating in 1974. [1]
Despite being a Swedish-speaking Finn by background, Idström wrote mostly in the Finnish language, due to her strong relationship with her Finnish-speaking grandmother. [1] [2] [5]
Her debut novel was Sinitaivas (1980) (lit. 'Blue Sky'). [2] [6]
Idström's breakthrough work is considered to be Veljeni Sebastian ('My Brother Sebastian') (1985). [2] That, along with another notable novel of hers, Kirjeitä Trinidadiin (1989) ('Letters to Trinidad'), were nominated for the Finlandia Prize literary award. [3]
She wrote five novels, several TV and radio dramas, as well as translating prose and poetry from Danish and Norwegian into Finnish. [7]
Often writing in the voice of a child, Idström's output centred on strong emotions such as hatred and violence, as well as family relations. [6]
Her works were unconventional in approach, dealing with dark and difficult themes, and blurring the boundary between internal and external observations. [4] [5]
In 1976–1977, Idström ran the Nuoren Voiman Liitto literary association. [1]
From 1984 to 1986, she lectured in Finnish language and literature at the University of Minnesota. [1] [6]
She also worked as a freelance director in the drama department of the Finnish public broadcaster Yle. [7] [6]
In 1985, Idström received the Finnish State Literature Prize ( Kirjallisuuden valtionpalkinto ). [7]
In 1996, she was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland. [7]
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