Bo Carpelan

Bo Gustaf Bertelsson Carpelan was born on October 25, 1926, in Helsinki. Earning a doctorate in comparative literature from the University of Helsinki, he served for thirty years as deputy chief librarian of the Helsinki City Library while composing elegant verse and prose.

Carpelan was a master of understated, atmospheric lyricism capturing light, shadows, rooms, and memories. In 1977, he received the Nordic Council Literature Prize for his poetry collection I de mörka rummen, i de ljusa. He made history by winning the Finlandia Prize twice: first in 1993 for his novel Urwind and again in 2005 for Berg (Summer), portraying the quiet dignity of human existence.