For many children in the Helsinki region, a trip to the Finnish Museum of Natural History is more than just an outing; it’s a formative experience—particularly for those awestruck by the massive dinosaur skeletons that dominate the third floor.
One such child was Iida Turpeinen, who fondly recalls her early visits to the museum, well before she ever set foot in a classroom.
“As a kid, I dreamed of being either a writer or a zoologist,” Turpeinen reflects.
While the dinosaurs captivated her youthful imagination, it was years later that a different exhibit ignited her curiosity: the skeleton of Steller’s sea cow, a colossal marine mammal discovered in 1741 and tragically hunted to extinction just 27 years later.
This dual tragedy of fleeting existence and human impact left Turpeinen perplexed. How could a species vanish from the earth in such a short time? And what path did the skeleton take from a remote island in the Bering Sea to reside in Helsinki?
At this point, Turpeinen had already committed to her professional path, delving into comparative literature at the University of Helsinki. Her exploration of these questions soon became the basis for her debut novel.
Recommended by the New York Times
The skeleton of Steller’s sea cow, and the story of how it ended up in the Finnish Museum of Natural History, inspired Iida Turpeinen’s debut novel.
Beasts of the Sea, published in Finnish in 2023, weaves together the lives of various characters who become intricately connected to Steller’s sea cow—whether through the creature itself or its skeleton. The narrative also carries a potent ecological message: the extinction of a single species serves as a stark reminder of humanity’s detrimental impact on the natural world.
“Writing fiction can illuminate issues like biodiversity loss,” Turpeinen notes. “It’s a slow catastrophe, hard to grasp fully. But literature has the power to forge emotional connections to such abstract concerns.”
The collections of the Finnish Museum of Natural History include one of the world’s only skeletons of the extinct Steller’s sea cow.
Unexpectedly, the book resonated widely, garnering the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize for the best debut work in Finland. Not long after, it made its way into the English market, earning a coveted spot on a New York Times recommendation list titled “Sumptuous New Historical Fiction.”
These accolades have left Turpeinen busier than ever, juggling book fairs, interviews, and the nuances of translation—all of which has left her struggling to carve out time for her next project. “I should be writing my second novel,” she admits, “but much of my time is still devoted to Beasts of the Sea.”
With a chuckle, she adds, “It’s funny; now that I’m a recognized writer, I seem to have less time to write than ever!”
When she eventually finds that elusive time, her next endeavor will delve into one of history’s most notorious scientific hoaxes, although she remains tight-lipped about the details for now.
The Challenges of Translation
Iida Turpeinen enjoys working at the Finnish Museum of Natural History, where she learns something new every day from her colleagues.
As of this writing, translation rights for the book have been purchased in 29 languages. If all editions find their way to publication, it could become one of the top ten most translated Finnish-language books for adults.
The original Finnish title, Living Things, translates to “the living things,” offering a poetic ambiguity, while the English title, Beasts of the Sea, suggests an entirely different genre—one that could easily belong to science fiction, horror, or even war adventure. Each translation offers its own unique flavor.
Amused, Turpeinen acknowledges the various connotations but asserts that the English title is fitting. After all, Georg Wilhelm Steller, who first described the species, penned his observations in a treatise titled De Bestiis Marinis—meaning “beasts of the sea” in Latin.
Translating the book has proven to be a daunting task. To assist translators, Turpeinen has compiled an extensive FAQ document, now spanning 111 pages.
A Writer and Part-time Museum Guide
Iida Turpeinen is working on her second novel. Her first took seven years to write.
Currently, Turpeinen has a rather unique arrangement: she serves as the writer-in-residence at the Museum of Natural History, a rare opportunity that allows her to collaborate closely with the museum’s researchers.
“This environment is incredibly inspiring for someone in the humanities,” she says. “Every coffee break brings new and fascinating insights from my colleagues.”
While her primary focus is on crafting her next book, she also engages with the public through the museum’s outreach program, leading guided tours and sharing the rich stories behind various exhibits.
“There’s a vast cultural history woven into the museum’s collections—how they were gathered, the philosophical ideas that fueled that work, and much more.”
Bridging Childhood Dreams
Iida Turpeinen stands outside the Finnish Museum of Natural History next to a Bronze Moose statue created by sculptor Jussi Mäntynen in the 1920s.
Reflecting on her childhood aspirations, Turpeinen expresses contentment with her career path, although she admits to a lingering sadness about leaving the realm of natural sciences behind.
Yet, by becoming a writer grounded in the rich tapestry of the Museum of Natural History, she feels she has come full circle.
“As a writer of fiction, I no longer have to choose between science and literature. I can bask in the beauty of both worlds,” she concludes.
By Juha Mäkinen, June 2026
Photos by Emilia Kangasluoma