Latvian Poetry in New Finnish Translations

Two collections of Latvian poetry published in autumn 2026 both explore a central theme: what can be said - and what a poet is allowed to say. The poets in these collections wrote during the Soviet era as well, when censorship ranged from strict to somewhat more lenient. The question remains relevant: even today it is far from self-evident.

The two books form complementary parallel works. The first is an anthology of five poets. The second features a single poet, Guntars Godiņš, who is also familiar to Finnish readers. He has translated extensively from Finnish and Estonian poetry, as well as Estonian prose. Godiņš's body of work is vast, and for this collection the translator also obtained a number of entirely new, previously unpublished poems.

Mirja Hovila reads aloud the poems she has translated into Finnish, shares the life stories of the poets, and discusses the joys and challenges of translating poetry. Hovila founded the PAPERIPORO publishing house in 2016 out of her love for Latvian literature and culture. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded her a certificate of honour for her work in promoting Latvia in Finland.

Free admission. Renovation of the Opistotalo building's facade and roof may cause changes and disruptions to classes.