Estonian Writers' Union
Encyclopedia
The Estonian Writers Union (Eesti Kirjanike Liit, abbreviated EKL), is a professional association of Estonian writers and literary critics.
Town Hall. On 27 April 1923, the association began the publication of the monthly magazine Looming
("Creation"), which is one of the most important literary magazines in Estonia. In 1927 the association expanded to Tartu with the opening of a branch there.
With the Soviet occupation of Estonia, the Estonian Writers Union was dissolved on 19 October 1940. The occupation authorities launched the Soviet Estonia Writers Union (Eesti Nõukogude Kirjanike Liit), on 8th or 9 October 1943 in Moscow. From 1958 it was called Writers Union of the Estonian SSR (Eesti NSV Kirjanike Liit) and was active until the end of the Soviet Union.
During the German occupation in Estonia from 1941 to 1944, the original Estonian writers' association unofficially continued its work. In 1945, the International Estonian Writers Union (Välismaine Eesti Kirjanike Liit) was founded in Stockholm as the organization of exiled Estonian writers as a counter organization to the Soviet Estonia Writers Union.
With the restoration of Estonian independence came the restoration of free expression and press freedom in Estonia, the association in Estonia was renamed Estonian Writers Union in 1991. The International Association merged with the Estonian Writers Union in October 2000.
Currently, the Estonian Writers Union has 302 members (as of July 2007). Its headquarters is located in the Old Town of Tallinn
and has a branch in Tartu. Estonian Writers Association also has a summer house in Käsmu
on the Baltic Sea
, which is regularly made available for domestic and foreign writers.
Katrin Raid: Loomise lugu. Eesti aeg. Eesti Kirjanikkude Liit 1922–1940. Tallinn 2002
History
The Estonian Writers Union was founded on the 8th of October 1922 under the name Eesti Kirjanike Liit at the 3rd Congress of Estonian writers held at the TallinnTallinn
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...
Town Hall. On 27 April 1923, the association began the publication of the monthly magazine Looming
Looming (journal)
-Literary journal:Looming was founded in 1923 by the Estonian writer Friedebert Tuglas. Its purpose was the publication and popularization of Estonian contemporary literature...
("Creation"), which is one of the most important literary magazines in Estonia. In 1927 the association expanded to Tartu with the opening of a branch there.
With the Soviet occupation of Estonia, the Estonian Writers Union was dissolved on 19 October 1940. The occupation authorities launched the Soviet Estonia Writers Union (Eesti Nõukogude Kirjanike Liit), on 8th or 9 October 1943 in Moscow. From 1958 it was called Writers Union of the Estonian SSR (Eesti NSV Kirjanike Liit) and was active until the end of the Soviet Union.
During the German occupation in Estonia from 1941 to 1944, the original Estonian writers' association unofficially continued its work. In 1945, the International Estonian Writers Union (Välismaine Eesti Kirjanike Liit) was founded in Stockholm as the organization of exiled Estonian writers as a counter organization to the Soviet Estonia Writers Union.
With the restoration of Estonian independence came the restoration of free expression and press freedom in Estonia, the association in Estonia was renamed Estonian Writers Union in 1991. The International Association merged with the Estonian Writers Union in October 2000.
Currently, the Estonian Writers Union has 302 members (as of July 2007). Its headquarters is located in the Old Town of 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...
and has a branch in Tartu. Estonian Writers Association also has a summer house in Käsmu
Käsmu
Käsmu is a village in Vihula Parish, Lääne-Viru County, in northeastern Estonia....
on the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, which is regularly made available for domestic and foreign writers.
Estonian Writers Union
- 1922–1923 Friedebert TuglasFriedebert TuglasFriedebert 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...
- 1923–1924 Karl Rumor-AstKarl Rumor-AstKarl Ast was an Estonian writer and politician.- Life :Karl Ast attended at the renowned Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in Tartu...
- 1924–1925 Eduard Hubel
- 1925–1927 Friedebert TuglasFriedebert TuglasFriedebert 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...
- 1927–1929 Henrik VisnapuuHenrik VisnapuuHenrik Visnapuu was a well known Estonian poet and dramatist.-Life:Henrik Visnapuu first attended the village school in Reola and college in Sipe and the municipal school in Tartu...
- 1929–1930 Friedebert TuglasFriedebert TuglasFriedebert 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...
- 1930–1936 Eduard Hubel
- 1937–1939 Friedebert TuglasFriedebert TuglasFriedebert 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...
- 1939–1940 August Jakobson
- 1941–1943 Albert KivikasAlbert KivikasAlbert Kivikas was an Estonian writer and journalist. He is best known as the author of the book "Names in Marble" , the subject of which is the Estonian War of Independence.- Life :...
- 1943–1944 Gustav SuitsGustav SuitsGustav Suits is considered one of the greatest Estonian poets. He was also an early leader of the literary movement group Noor-Eesti .- Childhood and Education :...
International Estonian Writers Union
- 1945–1982 August MälkAugust Mälk-Life:August Mälk was born on October 4, 1900, in Lümanda Parish in the village of Koovi , located on the west coast of the island of Saaremaa, in modern-day Estonia ....
- 1982–1999 Kalju LepikKalju LepikKalju Lepik was an Estonian poet who lived as an exile for most of his life....
- 1999–2000 Enn NõuEnn Nõu- Life and work :Nõu was born the son of the Estonian agricultural scientist Joosep Nõu . In 1944 the family fled the approaching Red Army to Sweden. From 1953 to 1961 Nõu studied medicine at the University of Uppsala. He then worked as a lung specialist. From 1979 Nõu was a lecturer at the Medical...
Soviet Estonia Writers Union/Writers Union of the Estonian SSR
- 1943–1944 Johannes Vares-Barbarus
- 1944–1946 August Jakobson
- 1946–1950 John SemperJohn SemperJohn Semper, Jr. is a screenwriter, producer and story editor with numerous credits in animation for television. He has worked for such diverse companies as Disney Studios, Warner Bros...
- 1950–1954 August Jakobson
- 1954–1971 Juhan SmuulJuhan SmuulJuhan Smuul was an Estonian writer. Until 1954 he used the given name Johannes Schmuul.-Career:...
- 1971–1976 Vladimir BeekmanVladimir BeekmanVladimir Beekman was an Estonian writer, poet and translator.-References:...
- 1976–1983 Paul KuusbergPaul KuusbergPaul Kuusberg was an Estonian writer. Novellas by him include “Roostetanud kastekann” and “Võõras või õige mees” , which won an award in Estonia....
- 1983–1991 Vladimir BeekmanVladimir BeekmanVladimir Beekman was an Estonian writer, poet and translator.-References:...
Estonian Writers Union
- 1991–1995 Vladimir BeekmanVladimir BeekmanVladimir Beekman was an Estonian writer, poet and translator.-References:...
- 1995–2004 Mati Sirkel
- 2004–2007 Jan KausJan Kaus- Life and work :Jan Kaus studied education and philosophy in Tallinn. In 1995, he took his teacher's examination.Kaus currently works as poetry and prose writer and publicist. In addition, he also works as a literary critic, essayist, visual artist, guitarist and translator from English and...
- Since 2007 Karl Martin SinijärvKarl Martin SinijärvKarl Martin Sinijärv is an Estonian journalist and a poet.Karl Martin Sinijärv is the son of politician Riivo Sinijärv.-References:...
Literature
Ülo Tuulik (eds): Eesti Kirjanikkude Liit 75, Tallinn 1997Katrin Raid: Loomise lugu. Eesti aeg. Eesti Kirjanikkude Liit 1922–1940. Tallinn 2002