Marie Under
Encyclopedia
Marie Under was one of the greatest Estonia
n poet
s.
girl's school. After graduating, she worked as a salesclerk in a bookstore. In her free time, she wrote poetry
in German
. In 1902, she married an Estonian accountant, Carl Hacker. The couple had two children in Kutshino, a suburb of Moscow
. However, in 1904, she fell in love with the Estonian
artist Ants Laikmaa
. Laikmaa convinced her to translate her poetry into Estonian
and submitted her translated works to local newspapers.
, who became her secretary. He also compiled the first volumes of her published poetry. In 1924, Under divorced Carl Hacker and married Adson.
. Under and her family fled to Sweden
. They spent almost a year in a refugee camp
. In 1945, the family moved to Mälarhöjden
, a suburb of Stockholm
, Sweden, where Under lived until her death on September 25, 1980. She is buried in the Woodland Cemetery
in Stockholm.
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
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
s.
Early life
Under attended a private GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
girl's school. After graduating, she worked as a salesclerk in a bookstore. In her free time, she wrote poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
in 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....
. In 1902, she married an Estonian accountant, Carl Hacker. The couple had two children in Kutshino, a suburb of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. However, in 1904, she fell in love with the Estonian
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
artist Ants Laikmaa
Ants Laikmaa
Ants Laikmaa was an Estonian painter.-Life:...
. Laikmaa convinced her to translate her poetry into Estonian
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...
and submitted her translated works to local newspapers.
Return to Estonia
In 1906, Under returned to Tallinn. In 1913, she met Artur AdsonArtur Adson
Artur Adson was an Estonian poet, writer and theatre critic.-Early years:Artur Adson attended school in Tartu, Sänna and Võru. After graduating he first studied surveying in Pskov. In 1925-26, he studied literature at the University of Tartu...
, who became her secretary. He also compiled the first volumes of her published poetry. In 1924, Under divorced Carl Hacker and married Adson.
Life in Exile
Beginning in September 1944, the U.S.S.R. occupied EstoniaEstonia
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...
. Under and her family fled to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. They spent almost a year in a refugee camp
Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees. Hundreds of thousands of people may live in any one single camp. Usually they are built and run by a government, the United Nations, or international organizations, or NGOs.Refugee camps are generally set up in an impromptu...
. In 1945, the family moved to Mälarhöjden
Mälarhöjden
Mälarhöjden is a suburb in south-west Stockholm, Sweden. It is a part of Hägersten borough. The area is dominated by single-family houses. It borders Hägersten, Västertorp, Fruängen and Bredäng. As of 2004, the area had 4022 inhabitants....
, a suburb of Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden, where Under lived until her death on September 25, 1980. She is buried in the Woodland Cemetery
Skogskyrkogården
Skogskyrkogården is a cemetery located in the Enskededalen district south of central Stockholm, Sweden...
in Stockholm.
External links
- Estonian Literary Magazine article, einst.ee
- Marie Under in pictures, kirmus.ee