Kersti Merilaas
Encyclopedia
Kersti Merilaas was an Estonia
n poet and translator. In addition, she wrote poems and prose for children and plays.
, Estonia shortly before the outbreak of the First World War. She spent her early childhood in St. Petersburg, Russia with her mother, Anna Moorberg and sister. The family returned to Estonia in 1917 because of the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. From 1921 to 1927 she attended school in the village of Kiltsi, then furthered her studies in Väike-Maarja
and Rakvere
in Lääne-Viru County. In 1932 she completed high school in Tapa
, Estonia.
In 1936 Kersti Merilaas married the Estonian writer and translator August Sang
(1914-1969) and the couple had a son named Joel Sang in 1950.
From 1936 Kersti Merilaas lived in Tartu
, where she was employed as a librarian. In 1935 she made her literary debut with a collection of poems titled Loomingus. She was a member of the influential group of Estonian poets brought together in 1938 by literary scholar Ants Oras
who was greatly influenced by T. S. Eliot
. The small circle of poets became known as Arbujad
("Soothsayers") and included Heiti Talvik
, Paul Viiding
, Betti Alver
, Uku Masing
and Bernard Kangro
That year, her anthology of poetry Maantee tuuled was published to much critical acclaim, particularly for its lyrical preoccupation with love and nature. Also in 1938 she joined the Estonian Writers Association.
After the Soviet occupation and annexation of Estonia in 1944, Merilaas' work was viewed by authorities as disreputable and promoting "bourgeois nationalism
". In 1950 Merilaas was forced to resign from the Soviet Writers Association of Estonia. During this time Merilaas was allowed to continue writing children's literature. In 1960, after the relaxation of Soviet authorities, Merilaas was again permitted to write literature for adults.
Besides poetry and prose, Kersti Merilaas wrote libretti for three operas by Estonian composer Gustav Ernesaks
and translated German
works of Bertolt Brecht
, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
into the Estonian language
.
Kersti Merilass died in Tallinn
, Estonia in 1986 at the age of 72.
Children's Books
Plays
Short Story Award for her work Eilsete perest.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n poet and translator. In addition, she wrote poems and prose for children and plays.
Life and work
Kersti Merilaas was born Eugenia Moorberg in NarvaNarva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
, Estonia shortly before the outbreak of the First World War. She spent her early childhood in St. Petersburg, Russia with her mother, Anna Moorberg and sister. The family returned to Estonia in 1917 because of the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. From 1921 to 1927 she attended school in the village of Kiltsi, then furthered her studies in Väike-Maarja
Väike-Maarja
Väike-Maarja is a small borough in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Väike-Maarja Parish.-Notable people:*Aile Asszonyi , opera singer*Eda-Ines Etti , singer*Vello Jürna , opera singer...
and Rakvere
Rakvere
Rakvere is a town in northern Estonia and the county seat of Lääne-Viru County, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland.-History:The earliest signs of human settlement dating back to the 3rd-5th centuries AD have been found on the present theatre hill. Probably to protect that settlement, a wooden...
in Lääne-Viru County. In 1932 she completed high school in Tapa
Tapa, Estonia
Tapa is a town in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia. Located at the junction of the country's Tallinn-Narva and Tallinn-Tartu-Valga railway lines, it is an important centre of transit for freight as well as rail passengers...
, Estonia.
In 1936 Kersti Merilaas married the Estonian writer and translator August Sang
August Sang
August Sang was an Estonian poet and literary translator.- Life and work :August Sang graduated from high school in Pärnu in 1932. After his military service he studied from 1934 to 1942 at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Tartu...
(1914-1969) and the couple had a son named Joel Sang in 1950.
From 1936 Kersti Merilaas lived in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
, where she was employed as a librarian. In 1935 she made her literary debut with a collection of poems titled Loomingus. She was a member of the influential group of Estonian poets brought together in 1938 by literary scholar Ants Oras
Ants Oras
Ants Oras was an Estonian translator and writer.Oras studied at Tartu University, graduating with a Master of Philosophy degree in 1923. He also obtained a Bachelor of Literature degree from Oxford University.From 1928 through 1934, he was a lecturer at both Tartu and Helsinki University...
who was greatly influenced by T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
. The small circle of poets became known as Arbujad
Arbujad
Arbujad was the collective name for a loose group of eight Estonian poets, which represented a new direction in Estonian poetry before the outbreak of World War II...
("Soothsayers") and included Heiti Talvik
Heiti Talvik
Heiti Talvik was an Estonian poet.- Life and literary career :...
, Paul Viiding
Paul Viiding
Paul Viiding was an Estonian poet, author and literary critic.Born in Valga, Estonia, he graduated with a degree in mathematics in Tartu before pursuing a career as an author and poet. He was a member of the influential group of Estonian poets brought together in 1938 by literary scholar Ants Oras...
, Betti Alver
Betti Alver
Betti Alver was the pseudonym of Elisabet Lepik-Talvik, one of Estonia's most notable poets. She was among the first generation to be educated in schools of an independent Estonia. She went to grammar school in Tartu.- Writing :She began as a prose writer...
, Uku Masing
Uku Masing
Uku Masing was an Estonian philosopher, translator, theologist and folklorist. He developed Estonian analytical philosophy. Masing also wrote poetry, mostly on religious issues...
and Bernard Kangro
Bernard Kangro
Bernard Kangro was an Estonian writer and poet.-Education:...
That year, her anthology of poetry Maantee tuuled was published to much critical acclaim, particularly for its lyrical preoccupation with love and nature. Also in 1938 she joined the Estonian Writers Association.
After the Soviet occupation and annexation of Estonia in 1944, Merilaas' work was viewed by authorities as disreputable and promoting "bourgeois nationalism
Bourgeois nationalism
Bourgeois nationalism is a term from Marxist phraseology. It refers to the alleged practice by the ruling classes of deliberately dividing people by nationality, race, ethnicity, or religion, so as to distract them from possible class warfare...
". In 1950 Merilaas was forced to resign from the Soviet Writers Association of Estonia. During this time Merilaas was allowed to continue writing children's literature. In 1960, after the relaxation of Soviet authorities, Merilaas was again permitted to write literature for adults.
Besides poetry and prose, Kersti Merilaas wrote libretti for three operas by Estonian composer Gustav Ernesaks
Gustav Ernesaks
Gustav Ernesaks was an Estonian composer and a choir conductor....
and translated German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
works of Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg was a German scientist, satirist and Anglophile. As a scientist, he was the first to hold a professorship explicitly dedicated to experimental physics in Germany...
and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
into the Estonian language
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
.
Kersti Merilass died in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia in 1986 at the age of 72.
Selected works
Poetry- Loomingus (1935)
- Maantee tuuled (1938)
- Rannapääsuke (1963)
- Kevadised koplid (1966)
- Kuukressid (1969)
- Antud ja võetud (1981)
Children's Books
- Munapühad (1940)
- Kallis kodu (collection of poems, 1944)
- Päikese paistel collection of poems (1948)
- Turvas (1950)
- Veskilaul (1959)
- Lugu mustast ja valgest (1962)
- Lumest lumeni (1982)
- Kui vanaema noor oli (poetry anthology, 1983)
- Kindakiri. – Варежки (poem in Estonian and RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
, 1986) - Siit siiani. Piksepill (collection of poems, 1989. Posthumous)
Plays
- Kaks viimast rida (1973)
- Pilli-Tiidu (1974)
Awards
In 1976, Kersti Merilaas was awarded the Friedebert TuglasFriedebert Tuglas
Friedebert Tuglas was an Estonian writer and critic who introduced Impressionism and Symbolism to Estonian literature. Persecuted under the czar, he became an acknowledged representative of Estonian literature in the Soviet era.-Biography:The son of a carpenter, Tuglas studied at the Hugo Treffner...
Short Story Award for her work Eilsete perest.
Further reading
- Kiin, Sirje: Kersti Merilaas: luuletaja elu. Raamets, Tallinn 1989
- Hasselblatt, Cornelius: Geschichte der estnischen Literatur. Berlin, New York. 2006. ISBN 3-11-018025-1