Loukko by 
We are delighted to announce that World English rights to Jussi Valtonen’s Finlandia Prize winner, They Know Not What They Do (Tammi 2014), have been acquired by UK-based Oneworld Publications!
“It is so exciting to come across a novelist who seeks to engage deeply with the questions of our time, and in They Know Not What They Do Jussi Valtonen has achieved that rare thing – an intelligent, compellingly readable, and above all thought-provoking novel. This is definitely a book you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished reading it.”
– Juliet Mabey, Publisher, Oneworld
Founded in 1986, Oneworld is an independent publisher that focuses on intelligent, thought-provoking, and distinctive fiction that bridges the intersection of the literary and the commercial. Among other authors published by Oneworld are Richard Adams, Marlon James, Caryl Phillips, Sun-mi Hwang, Mary Roach, Jared Diamond and most recently award-winning Danish author Thomas Rydahl.
Valtonen’s work, which evokes Jonathan Franzen and Brave New World by way of David Mitchell, has sold about 100,000 copies in Finland since its publication in fall 2014 and received glowing reviews from critics. Rights were also recently sold to Signatuur/A.W. Bruna in the Netherlands.
“Jussi Valtonen is one of those authors who can evoke a change in your thoughts, ideas and prejudices, while entertaining you at the same time. The thin line between what we think is our reality, and what it could become, is fascinating. His psychological portraits and observations on science and society are spot on.”
– Juliette van Wersch, Publisher, Signatuur/A.W. Bruna
About They Know Not What They Do:
When professor Joe Chayefski’s neuroscience lab in Baltimore is attacked by animal rights activists, he doesn’t connect the dots at first. But when he receives a phone call from Alina, his Finnish ex-wife, he begins to gradually realize that the threats on his career and new family are connected to Samuel, the son he left behind in Finland two decades ago. Joe soon learns that his son’s life has gone badly astray, and that Samuel has devoted himself to extreme animal rights activism. Joe realizes that he has to take action to protect his wife and two daughters from his estranged son, by any means necessary.
They Know Not What They Do offers readers piercing psychological insight. It is also a dystopian satire of a world in which nothing is private and everything is for sale.
Jussi Valtonen (b. 1974) is an author and psychologist from Helsinki. He studied neuropsychology in the United States and screenwriting in the UK. His previous works include two novels and a short story collection. His novel, Carried by Wings (Siipien kantamat, Tammi 2007) was awarded second place in Bonnier’s novel competition, and received a warm reception from both critics and bloggers.
RIGHTS SOLD:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
NETHERLANDS, Signatuur/A.W. Bruna
WORLD ENGLISH, Oneworld Publications
Reading materials:
English sample
English synopsis
Finnish edition
Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com
