The Äitini-suku-series tells the stories of the Finns who emigrated to the United States. He received the J. H. Erkko Award in 1971 for Asioiden suhteet ja Lauantaina illalla, The Nordic Council's Literature Prize in 1985 for Pohjanmaa, and the Finlandia Prize in 1997 for his novel Lakeuden kutsu. Tuuri has also translated some Icelandic sagas.
