Anu Kaipainen

Aune ("Anu") Helinä Mustonen was born in Muolaa, Karelia, to the school principal Johan Emil Mustonen and his second wife Signe Julia Sjöblom. She completed her secondary education in Helsinki in 1951, after which she studied at the University of Helsinki, graduating with a Master of Arts in 1955. ==Career==

Before dedicating herself to writing, Kaipainen worked as a Finnish teacher for several years. Her 2002 novel Granaattiomena ('Pomegranate') was shortlisted for the Finlandia Prize literary award. Common themes in many of Kaipainen's works are on one hand myths and legends; on the other, contemporary realism and criticism of societal injustices and problems. She felt that a novel must be written openly and honestly, without trying to sugar-coat difficult issues. ==Awards and honours==

Kaipainen won the twice, in 1966 and 1969. She was awarded the state pension for artists (Valtion taiteilijaeläke) in recognition of her life's work, from 1994. In 2006, Kaipainen was recognised with the annual award (Suomen Kirjailijaliiton tunnustuspalkinto) of the Union of Finnish Writers. ==Personal life==

In 1955, Anu Mustonen married the physician and later politician Osmo Kaipainen; the couple had three sons, the eldest of whom was the composer Jouni Kaipainen. ==References==