Annika Luther photo by Cata Portin

Annika Luther

Annika Luther (b. 1958) took up writing in the 90s, continued because of the unexpected pleasure it brought. She has since written five youth novels and a history-book about Helsinki.

Annika Luther’s ‘A Letter to the Edge of the Land’ was shortlisted for the Finlandia Junior prize and winner of the Topelius prize in 2008.

Praise:

“Annika Luther’s hilarious story is a literary jackpot.” – Savon Sanomat


Luther De Hemlösas stas

Written by Annika Luther

City of the Homeless

Original title: De hemlösas stad | Published: 2011 | Publisher: Söderströms
Class: Fiction | Pages: 200 | Sample translations: English

Nominated for the Topelius Prize 2012

An incredibly exciting dystopia, like Margaret Atwood for youngsters.

Following a climate catastrophe in the year 2035, large parts of Finland are under water. Helsinki has been evacuated, and the inhabitants have all been moved up north. The children live a sheltered life there, with kantele music, sport and mobile phone supervision, largely ignorant of the world outside. But fifteen-year-old Lilja, who was born in Helsinki, wants to find out about her roots. She runs away and makes her way to Helsinki, where people from all over the world have settled after their own homes were inundated. There she is able to live with an Indian family – and try to survive in a totally different Helsinki from the one she – and we – are familiar with.

In Luther’s dystopia there is also humour, and identification with the young protagonist and her teenage temperament. And a realisation that life always goes on, in some form or other, despite everything.

 


Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency Oy Ltd.

info(at)ahlbackagency.com | +358 400 512 101 | www.ahlbackagency.com | Korkeavuorenkatu 37, FI-00130 Helsinki, Finland

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