Varrak
Encyclopedia
Varrak is an Estonia
n book publishing company founded in 1991, which quickly grew to one of the most popular book publishers in Estonia. It publishes both Estonian and translated works, including children's books
, biographies
, fiction
and history books.
The company is named after a character in the Estonian epic poem Kalevipoeg
.
s compiled by her, and her translation of William Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil
, which is now published by Estonian publisher Canopus, which is known for publishing many other books by Maugham. Alongside Varrak, other publishers started as well, including Huma, Monokkel and half a year later, the schoolbook
publisher Koolibri.
Their first translator was Krista Kaer, who started working at Varrak in 1992. Arthur Conan Doyle
's stories of Sherlock Holmes
were the first work of translation after The Painted Veil. In 1993, Varrak published the translation of Brideshead Revisited
, this time translated by Henno Rajandi. In 1996, Kaer came to work translating at Varrak as a full time job, and the company made their first partnership with Dorling Kindersley
.
of Finland
cooperated to create the first Estonian book club, known as Suur Eesti Raamatuklubi ("Large Estonian Book Club", shortened as "SERK"), a promotional effort that would allow its members lower prices on Varrak's books. The club also provided a monthly newsletter, alongside a Book of the Month, which would be extensively promoted in the newsletter. The club was then broken to two individual clubs in 2006, forming SERK and the Varrak book club, the latter of which then included 15,000 members. The two rejoined in 2008 back into SERK, now with 35,000 members.
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 book publishing company founded in 1991, which quickly grew to one of the most popular book publishers in Estonia. It publishes both Estonian and translated works, including children's books
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
, biographies
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
, fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
and history books.
The company is named after a character in the Estonian epic poem Kalevipoeg
Kalevipoeg
Kalevipoeg is an epic poem by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald held to be the Estonian national epic.- Origins : There existed an oral tradition within Ancient Estonia of legends explaining the origin of the world...
.
History
Varrak was founded in 1991 by Priit and Maret Maide. They had 1000 rubles, which could buy 1.5–2 tons of paper. She wanted to try and run a book publishing company, knowing that they had nothing to lose on the money. Maret had two works - a book about cocktailCocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
s compiled by her, and her translation of William Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil
The Painted Veil
The Painted Veil may refer to:* The Painted Veil , by W. Somerset Maugham* The Painted Veil , directed by Ryszard Bolesławski* The Painted Veil , directed by John Curran...
, which is now published by Estonian publisher Canopus, which is known for publishing many other books by Maugham. Alongside Varrak, other publishers started as well, including Huma, Monokkel and half a year later, the schoolbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
publisher Koolibri.
Their first translator was Krista Kaer, who started working at Varrak in 1992. Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
's stories of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
were the first work of translation after The Painted Veil. In 1993, Varrak published the translation of Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited, The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder is a novel by English writer Evelyn Waugh, first published in 1945. Waugh wrote that the novel "deals with what is theologically termed 'the operation of Grace', that is to say, the unmerited and unilateral act of love by...
, this time translated by Henno Rajandi. In 1996, Kaer came to work translating at Varrak as a full time job, and the company made their first partnership with Dorling Kindersley
Dorling Kindersley
Dorling Kindersley is an international publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 51 languages. It is currently part of the Penguin Group....
.
Book club
In 1998, Varrak and Yhtyneet Kuvalehdet OY, publisher of the magazine Suomen KuvalehtiSuomen Kuvalehti
Suomen Kuvalehti is a weekly Finnish magazine, published by Otava every Friday. The magazine has a circulation of 101,000 and its editor is Tapani Ruokanen. Suomen Kuvalehti aims to write broad articles about current topics.The comic strip Blondie regularly appears in the magazine...
of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
cooperated to create the first Estonian book club, known as Suur Eesti Raamatuklubi ("Large Estonian Book Club", shortened as "SERK"), a promotional effort that would allow its members lower prices on Varrak's books. The club also provided a monthly newsletter, alongside a Book of the Month, which would be extensively promoted in the newsletter. The club was then broken to two individual clubs in 2006, forming SERK and the Varrak book club, the latter of which then included 15,000 members. The two rejoined in 2008 back into SERK, now with 35,000 members.
Estonian authors
Notable Estonian authors whose works are published exclusively by Varrak include:- Aime Hansen
- Urmas Laansoo
Foreign authors
Foreign authors whose works have been translated into Estonian exclusively for Varrak include:- Agatha ChristieAgatha ChristieDame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
- Ann GrangerAnn GrangerPatricia Ann Granger is a British crime writer.Granger was born in Portsmouth, England. She took a Modern Languages degree at the University of London, taught English for a year in France, but eventually went to work in the visa sections of British consulates and embassies in Yugoslavia,...
- Dick FrancisDick FrancisRichard Stanley "Dick" Francis CBE was an English jockey and crime writer, many of whose novels centre around horse racing.- Personal life :...
- Fay WeldonFay WeldonFay Weldon CBE is an English author, essayist and playwright, whose work has been associated with feminism. In her fiction, Weldon typically portrays contemporary women who find themselves trapped in oppressive situations caused by the patriarchal structure of British society.-Biography:Weldon was...
- George R. R. MartinGeorge R. R. MartinGeorge Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, his bestselling series of epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted for their dramatic pay-cable series Game of...
- John GrishamJohn GrishamJohn Ray Grisham, Jr. is an American lawyer and author, best known for his popular legal thrillers.John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law for about a decade...
- Lee ChildLee ChildJim Grant , better known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British thriller writer. His wife Jane is a New Yorker, and they currently live in New York state. His first novel, Killing Floor, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel....
- Louise PennyLouise PennyLouise Penny is a Canadian author of mystery novels set in the Canadian province of Quebec centred on the work of Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Penny's first career was as a radio broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...
- Santa MontefioreSanta MontefioreSanta Montefiore, born Santa Palmer-Tomkinson, is a British author.Santa is the sister of Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. Her parents are Charles Palmer-Tomkinson and Patricia Palmer-Tomkinson, of Anglo-Argentine background. Her father represented his country in skiing at Olympic level...
- Simon Sebag MontefioreSimon Sebag MontefioreSimon Jonathan Sebag Montefiore is a British historian and writer.-Family history:Simon's father, a doctor, is descended from a famous line of wealthy Sephardic Jews who became diplomats and bankers all over Europe...
- Stefan KleinStefan KleinStefan Klein is a physicist, author and essayist who has specialized in writing on science and its social implications in an accessible manner.He is best known for his books The Science of Happiness and Time: A User's Guide....
- Stieg LarssonStieg LarssonKarl Stig-Erland Larsson , who wrote professionally as Stieg Larsson, was a Swedish journalist and writer, born in Skelleftehamn outside Skellefteå. He is best known for writing the "Millennium series" of crime novels, which were published posthumously...
- Sofi OksanenSofi OksanenSofi Oksanen is a Finnish contemporary writer. She was born in Jyväskylä. Her father is Finnish and her mother is Estonian. So far, Oksanen has published three novels, one an international best seller and a play. She has received several awards for her literary work.-Life:Sofi Oksanen was born and...
(mother was Estonian, father was Finnish)
Books
- W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset MaughamWilliam Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
: Kirev loor - Estonian translation (Varrak, 1991, ISBN 978-9985-965-75-7)