18 December 2025
The Golden Deer shortlisted for the first Karelia Literature Prize
Miina Supinen’s novel The Golden Deer is among the nominees competing for the Karelia Literature Prize, presented for the first time.
The finalists for the new prize were selected from works considered to represent Karelian literature in a meritorious and wide-ranging manner.
The jury’s motivation for The Golden Deer (Kultainen peura)
“In her story, the author insightfully combines the history of the social status of women and children with a mythical fantasy tale. In this sense, The Golden Deer is a revolutionary hybrid of genres. Linguistically and narratively, Supinen’s novel draws on the rich heritage of the Eastern dialects and the Karelian language, as well as the treasure trove of folk poetry and folklore.”
Vibrant and wild like a folk ballad, The Golden Deer (Kultainen peura, Otava 2024) is a compelling ‘Karelian Gothic’ novel inspired by epic folk tales. Braiding superstition, language, and illicit love with a sprinkling of mystical fantasy, Miina Supinen delivers an absorbing and spirited narrative in this, her fifth novel.
The Karelia Literature Prize, worth €20,000, is awarded by the Foundation for Karelian Culture to strengthen the position of Finnish and, in particular, North Karelian printed literature while highlighting the diversity of the country’s provinces. The winning title will be revealed in January 2026.
Our warmest congratulations to Miina Supinen and all other nominees.
