COMMENT: Not the most appropriate, but the best

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By Antti Majander
     
      When Erno Paasilinna took the very first Finlandia Prize in 1984, there were worried comments in the media: will the award, worth 100,000 markka blunt the edges of the hard man?
      It was a large sum of money then; for an essayist it was a paycheck never before seen.
      Nevertheless, Paasilinna remained his old acerbic self, which saved the later winners from undergoing the same speculation.
      Now that Bo Carpelan is the first to hit the jackpot for a second time, it seems like he is also remaining his own self, as indicated by his list of planned acquisitions with the prize money: "a castle in France", and "an oil tanker".
      What a guy!
     
As for taking the prize a second time, at least Matti Mäkelä of the newspaper Aamulehti was furious already when this year's nominees were made public in mid-November.
      Mäkelä wondered if there really are not enough writers worthy of awards, considering that old winners have to be nominated again.
      Certainly there are, and why not even good enough to win?
      Nevertheless, Paavo Lipponens' decision is certainly a boost to the credibility of the annual ritual. Awarding the renowned writer of a valuable work boosts the profile of the prize. Finlandia will not remain in the headlines if the impression is created that the search is for the most appropriate winner, rather than the best.
     
Behind the headlines the question is not of an individual book or author, but rather the habit of the publishing business to strut: to advertise the activities of reading and buying.
      For that reason, for my part, I cannot take a very passionate view of who wins and who does not.
      Carpelan's Berg is not a new opening on an author's long career, but it does seem to be the most refined peak in his prose style, and therefore a cause for celebration among the whole reading public.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 9.12.2005

More on this subject:
 Creativity cannot be quantified, says Finlandia Prize-winner Bo Carpelan

ANTTI MAJANDER / Helsingin Sanomat
antti.majander@hs.fi