Latvian Literature

31/01/2025

🇱🇻 🇫🇷 Yesterday, we shared a review of a Latvian novel by the French culture magazine Diacritik. Today, we're excited to present an interview with Nicolas Auzanneau, the translator of Rūdolfs Blaumanis (1862–1908).
📚In this conversation with Zoé Théval , Auzanneau speaks about Blaumanis background and becoming one of Latvia's first professional writers. He also speaks about the historical context during Blaumanis time , telling about nations struggle between Russian imperial administration and Baltic German nobility.

✏️"As for the "choice" to translate "In the Shadow of Death", the credit goes exclusively to Olivier Demestre, the one -man band of Éditions do, who was curious enough to go to Latvia as part of a trip organized by the Latvian Literature platform for publishers and journalists interested in Latvia. He had in his hands the English translation of the short story by my colleague Uldis Balodis and proposed this project to me. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful that I have ever been offered "

Pour mieux appréhender et approfondir le contexte littéraire et décolonial dans lequel s’inscrit À l’ombre de la mort de Rūdolfs Blaumanis, entretien avec Nicolas Auzanneau, le traducteur de l&rsqu…

29/01/2025

🇨🇿 We're happy to share a recent review from the Czech literary magazine ITvar that takes an in-depth look into the anthology "Lidé jako my" ("People Like Us"), edited and translated by Anna Sedláčková and other translators, published by Nakladatelství Karolinum.
The review praises the collection for offering readers a diverse look at contemporary Latvian literature, confirming and reassuring that the goal of presenting such variety has been achieved.

Reviewer Jan M. Heller praises the excellent fluency of the translation. While he does not speak Latvian himself and can not compare the original to the Czech version, he has no doubt that translators has done an outstanding job. The reading experience highlights translator’s great skill in bringing these stories to a Czech audience.📖🤝

The anthology features a range of prose, including short stories and novel excerpts, showcasing the richness of Latvian literary voices. Also, the collection includes works translated from Livonian and Latgalian, highlighting the linguistic diversity within Latvia. 🌍🖋️

Read here: https://itvar.cz/prostor-absurdna-feminity-a-traumatu

Latvijas vēstniecība Čehijā / Lotyšské velvyslanectví v České republice

29/01/2025

Starting today, you can get your hands on a remarkable Latvian novel in Spanish translation! 🇱🇻📖🇪🇸

"Las Hermosas" (Skaistās) by Inga Gaile, in Rafael Martín Calvo translation can now be found online on the publisher's website Armaenia Editorial and across the bookshops in all of Spain!
Congratulations! 🌸🎉

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of concentration camps, including Ravensbrück, a place intended exclusively for women.
In this context, publisher Armaenia Editorial has chosen "Las Hermosas" by Inga Gaile as its first novel of 2025.
This powerful book speaks about the experiences of women during one of the darkest periods of history, portraying resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

Originally published by Dienas Grāmata.

📚 Available from January 29th in the online store https://www.armaeniaeditorial.com/las-hermosas/ and bookstores across Spain!
🖼️ Photographs from the Ravensbrück Memorial Museum.

Embajada de Letonia en España

28/01/2025

Yesterday, January 27th, the world commemorated the victims of the Holocaust, honouring their memory and reflecting on the painful lessons of history.
We are pleased to see that Latvian literature, addressing these heavy topics, was featured in yesterday’s Finnish magazing HS – Helsingin Sanomat 🇫🇮.

"Latvia underwent a crash course in realpolitik in less than two years: the Red Army, deportations, the N***s, and the Holocaust," says journalist Veli-Pekka Leppänen exploring difficult historical questions as he reviews the award-winning novel "The Taste of Lead" (Lyijyn maku in Finnish) by Māris Bērziņš, translated by Hilkka Koskela and published by Aviador Kustannus.

📖 As the reviewer writes:
"A crash course in realpolitik, in under two years! Bērziņš looks at these dead ends of history, not through ultimatums or meetings of leaders, but through the eyes of ordinary people in Riga. How to adapt to suddenly changing realities and rulers, to the fact that power structures change overnight? Who will take the place of the previous scoundrel?"

🔴 The novel’s focal point is Latvia’s own Holocaust. It inevitably leads to the tragic days of autumn 1941, when approximately 25,000 Latvian Jews were executed in the Rumbula forest near Riga.

📚 Read more and order the book here:
🔗 https://www.aviador.fi/product-page/lyijyn-maku

Embassy of Latvia in Helsinki Māris Gūtenmorgens Bērziņš
Originally published by Dienas Grāmata.

Latvialaisromaani avaa näkymiä neuvosto- ja natsimiehitykseen – ja Latvian holokaustiin syksyllä 1941.

28/01/2025

Ar skumjām atvadāmies no Jāņa Petera – izcilā dzejnieka un latviešu literatūras balsta.
Viņa vārdi paliks dzīvi mūsu sirdīs, dziesmās un darbos!
Izsakām līdzjūtibu ģimenei un visiem, kam viņa darbi bijuši tuvi.🤍❤️

85 gadu vecumā mūžība aizgājis izcilais latviešu dzejnieks, ievērojams sabiedriskais darbinieks un diplomāts Jānis Peters, ziņo LTV.

27/01/2025

🇩🇪 🇱🇻 We’re delighted to announce that "lyserg säure blues", a German translation of Vilis Kasims unique story collection, will be published this March by Edition Fototapeta publishing house in Germany!
📚 Translated by the talented Lil Reif, this book offers a journey through texts, blending flash fiction, prose poetry, and ultrashort stories.
Congratulations and we’re looking forward to the release!🎉

Originally published as “Lizergīnblūzs” by Orbīta publishing house.

Neues aus Lettland für die Edition Fototapeta - erscheint im März '25

27/01/2025

🇮🇳 🇱🇻 From January 16 to 18, the Chennai International Book Fair 2025 took place and we are pleased to have Latvian Literature represented at the fair by our literary agent Žanete Vēvere.

We are grateful for the opportunity to bring Latvian literature to the Tamil language and introduce to our culture and history.
Our gratitude goes to the fair's many organizers for the incredibly well-planned and run events, which gave every participant a chance to meet professionally and privately, cross borders, and feel close.
Some to mention Murali Kannadhason. G, Ilangoven Chinnusamy Aazhi Senthil Nathan, Mohamed Ali H.

In pictures encounters and meetings with Mr Kannan Sundaram from Kalachuvadu Publications, the first Tamil publisher to collaborate with Latvians on the publication of Sandra Kalniete novel "With Dance Shoes in Siberian Snows" in Tamil language, and meeting Olivannan Gopalakrishnan from Emerald Publishers, who made an offer for the publication of Latvian novels in Tamil: "Dog Town" by Luīze Pastore, illustrated by Reinis Pētersons and "The Green Crow" by Kristine Ulberga. 📖
Three very full and busy days allowed Žanete to meet many new representatives from the local literary scene and we are confident that the literature will travel both ways!

Our agent Žanete Vēvere extends her gratitude to her assistant at the fair, Kim Levi, who has done excellent work assisting her during the the fair. 🙏

23/01/2025

🇺🇦 We are happy to see a Latvian book recognized on the list of the best translations in Ukraine for 2024! 💛💙
Foreign fiction for children has listed Anete Melece "Kiosk" translated in Ukrainian by Lina Melnyk, published by Дитяче арт-видавництво "Чорні вівці". Congratulations!!!🥳

At the end of December, members of PEN Ukraine traditionally compile a list of publications that impressed them during the year. Despite Russian attacks, the book publishing business did not pause, and 2024 became a truly significant year for modern Ukrainian literature. 💛💙

Наприкінці грудня члени Українського ПЕН традиційно укладають список видань, котрі вразили їх протягом року. Всупереч російським атакам, книговидавнича справа не...

22/01/2025

Save The Date!
🇱🇻✈️🇬🇧 Latvian Illustrator Elīna Brasliņa visits London! 🎨

This February London is in a creative treat as beloved Latvian illustrator visits with several workshops and meetings with children.
As the first one, meet Elīna on World Mother Language Day, join illustrator and translator to explore poems and stories from around the world.
Participate in Worlds of Words: Translation and Drawing Workshop at the Southbank Centre! 🖌️✨
Fri 21 Feb 2025, 11:30 and 1:30pm
Tickets: in the link

The Emma Press

On World Mother Language Day, join illustrator and translator Elīna Brasliņa to explore poems and stories from around the world.

21/01/2025

🇱🇻 Latvian Literature on the stage in Lithuania this February! 🇱🇹

This February, several Latvian voices will be heard in Lithuania, both in theatre and at the Vilnius Book Fair.
Here are some dates to save in your calendars!

🎟️ 14–15 February:
The premiere of “Mane vadina Kalendorium” at the Klaipėda Drama Theatre Klaipėdos dramos teatras! 🎭
Based on Andris Kalnozols’ best selling novel “Kalendārs mani sauc”, this production (directed by Elmārs Seņkovs) will also be performed on 20–21 February.
Tickets and more info: kdt.lt

📖 27 February – 2 March:
The Vilnius Book Fair 📚 welcomes Latvian authors Anna Auziņa, Jelena Glazova, Artis Ostups, Arvis Viguls and Anete Melece!

💡 Fans of Latvian literature will also enjoy:
📕 The Lithuanian translation of Anna Auziņa “Mājoklis. Terēzes dienasgrāmata” - "Buveinė" in Lithuanian, translated by Audrius Musteikis, published by Asociacija Slinktys.
📰 and articles about Latvian literature can be found in the latest issue of Colloquia, published by the Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute.
Read here: https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/Colloquia/issue/view/2587

20/01/2025

📖Calling All Publishers & Translators! 🌏

The first OPEN CALL of 2025 for translating and publishing Latvian literature abroad is now live! ✍️✨
➡️ Application Deadline: 16 February , 2025
➡️ Results Announcement: 14 March, 2025

👉 Visit latvianliterature.lv for all the details and application guidelines.

The grant program is financed by The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia Latvijas Republikas Kultūras ministrija.

International Publishers Association Federation of European Publishers
Publishing Perspectives World Literature Today European Literature Network European Union Prize for Literature Publishers Weekly The Bookseller magazine

https://www.latvianliterature.lv/en/news/first-open-call-of-2025-for-translating-and-publishing-latvian-literature-abroad

The Latvian Literature platform is announcing this year’s FIRST open call for foreign PUBLISHERS AND TRANSLATORS offering an opportunity to receive a grant for translating and publishing Latvian literature abroad.

17/01/2025

🌍Pagājušajā gadā ārvalstīs izdotas 48 Latvijas autoru grāmatas📚

Visvairāk grāmatas iznākušas poļu, lietuviešu, igauņu un itāļu valodā. 2024. gadā, tāpat kā 2023. gadā, visvairāk tulkotā latviešu autore un ilustratore ir Anete Melece 🏆

✍️ No pagājušajā gadā iznākušajām grāmatām 9 ir dzejas, 17 bērnu literatūras un 19 prozas žanra darbi, kā arī ārvalstīs iznākušas 3 dzejas un prozas antoloģijas. Joprojām populārākie tulkotie darbi ir Anetes Meleces "Pazudušais miedziņš" (4 tulkojumi) un "Kiosks" (3 tulkojumi), kā arī Inga Gaile "Skaistās" (3 tulkojumi).

✍️"Anetes Meleces lieliskie grāmatu varoņi turpina savu ceļu pasaulē, pierādot, ka latviešu bērnu literatūra ir konkurētspējīga. No Anetes Meleces neatpaliek Ingas Gailes daiļrade, ko nu var iepazīt vācu, igauņu, serbu un poļu valodā, kā arī šogad, gada sākumā, sagaidāms Ingas Gailes Skaistās tulkojumu spāņu valodā,” stāsta platformas Latvian Literature vadītāja Inga Bodnarjuka-Mrazauskas.

Lielākā daļa Latvijas literatūras darbu ārvalstīs iznākuši ar Latvijas Republikas Kultūras ministrija atbalstu.

Zvaigzne ABC liels un mazs Dienas Grāmata Ascendum Neputns Orbīta SIA Valters Dakša Latvijas Grāmatizdevēju asociācija JĀNIS ROZE

Visvairāk grāmatas iznākušas poļu, lietuviešu, igauņu un itāļu valodā. 2024. gadā, tāpat kā 2023. gadā, visvairāk tulkotā latviešu autore un ilustratore ir Anete Melece, informēja Latvian Literature pārstāve Ildze Jansone

17/01/2025

🌍📚 48 Books by Latvian Authors Published Abroad in 2024! 📚

We’re happy to share the news: in 2024, 48 books by Latvian authors found homes in 23 countries worldwide! 🌍
From poetry to children’s literature to prose, Latvian authors are traveling far and wide.
Here are some notable highlights:
🔸 Most-translated author (just as in 2023): 🏆 Anete Melece!
Her books were published in 7 countries.
🔸 Top languages include Polish, Lithuanian, Estonian, Finnish, and Italian.
🔸Latvian author Inga Gaile can now be read in German, Estonian, Serbian, and Polish, with a Spanish translation of "The Beautiful Ones"" coming soon.
🔸Jānis Joņevs and Sergej Timofejev were translated in 3 countries each.

🌍 Many more translations are on the way in 2025 already, including:
- "Call me Calendar" by Andris Kalnozols in Hungarian,
- "The Dwelling. Teresa's Diary" by Anna Auziņa in Lithuanian,
- "The Poet and the Scent" by Lote Vilma in Spanish,
- "Laimes Children" by Luīze Pastore in Czech,
- poetry collection by Semyon Hanin in Swedish.

The majority of Latvian literary works published abroad have received support from the Latvian Ministry of Culture Latvijas Republikas Kultūras ministrija.

Agnese Lāce Zvaigzne ABC liels un mazs Dienas Grāmata Ascendum Neputns Orbīta SIA Valters Dakša LSM News

16/01/2025

🇫🇷 A lovely review for Jānis Joņevs "Tigre" 🐅 (Tīģeris) on the air! 🎙️
The podcast highlights the brilliance of Jānis Joņevs work, published in France by Les Argonautes Éditeur and translated from Latvian by Nicolas Auzanneau🖋️

As the reviewer beautifully says:
👉 "The author transforms reality through imagination, creating a parallel universe that is much stronger, more interesting, far more beautiful, and at times, much more dangerous. These 12 adventures remind us that the world is a game." 🌍🎲

📢 Listen to the full review here:

Critique de "Tigre" ("Tigeris", 2020) de Janis JONEVS, traduit du letton par Nicolas Auzanneau, éd. Les Argonautes, 2024

15/01/2025

🇩🇪 Yesterday, the German radio program Radioweser.tv - Baltische Stunde, among other news and music, also featured Latvian literature - Inga Gaile novel "Der Geschmack von schwarzer Erde" (Skaistās), translated from Latvian by Bettina Bergmann and published in Germany by Ultraviolett Verlag.
Originally published by Dienas Grāmata.
https://ultraviolett-verlag.de/produkt/schwarze-erde/

📻Listen here: https://www.baltische-stunde.de/Baltische%20stunde_205_320_DI_2025-01-14_erste.mp3

Einschalten!

BALTISCHE STUNDE
mit viel Musik aus Estland, Lettland und Litauen, Buchtipps und Gesprächsgästen
Dienstag, 14. Januar 2025, 19.00–21.00 Uhr

Wiederholung:
Samstag, den 25. Januar 2025, 16.00–18.00 Uhr

Auf UKW 92,5 im Raum Bremen
im Livestream online
www.medialabnord.de/radio-livestream/
oder nachzuhören auf unserer Webseite
www.baltische-stunde.de

im Live-Player online
http://baltische-stunde.de/RWTV%20HFHB%20livestream_player.html

unter anderem mit:
Inga Gaile: Der Geschmack von schwarzer Erde
Aus dem Lettischen von Bettina Bergmann. Erschienen im Ultraviolett Verlag.
https://ultraviolett-verlag.de/produkt/schwarze-erde/

Poetisch und tiefgehend. Zeitgenössische Literatur aus Lettland in deutscher Erstübersetzung.
Ihre Schicksale sind ein Abbild des 20. Jahrhunderts: Violette Dauphine wird als »Politische« im Konzentrationslager Ravensbrück interniert und für eine schreckliche Arbeit ausgewählt. Der Lagerarzt Karls, ein Psychologe aus Lettland, der sich gegen das Unmenschliche kaum wehren kann – und nicht in seine Heimat zurückkommt, ist daran nicht unschuldig. Die Lettinnen Lidija und Ilze werden nach Sibirien verschleppt, während andere diesem Schicksal entkommen. Im sowjetischen Lettland treffen sie wieder aufeinander. All ihre Leben sind miteinander verbunden: durch Beziehungen, Kinder oder durch die Umstände, unter denen sie leben.
Inga Gaile verwebt die Lebensgeschichten dieser Menschen miteinander über Ländergrenzen und Generationen hinweg. »Der Geschmack von schwarzer Erde« zeigt die Traumata, die der Zweite Weltkrieg über Generationen hinterlassen hat, unabhängig von Nation und sozialer Stellung.
Inga Gaile über ihren Roman: »Ich habe versucht, einen Roman über Menschen zu schreiben, die in der Lage sind, ihre Menschlichkeit in Situationen und unter Umständen zu bewahren, in denen sie keinen Platz hat.«
Die lettische Bestsellerautorin lässt uns in ihrem zweiten Roman »Der Geschmack von schwarzer Erde« (Originaltitel »Skaistās«) tief in die dunkelste lettische und deutsche Geschichte eintauchen. Ein Meisterwerk der Literatur.

14/01/2025

🇬🇧 ✍️ An opportunity for European Writers - European Writer in Residence in London!
This month-long residency offers an inspiring experience for a writer from anywhere in Europe. 🌍
The chosen writer will be attached to UCL's European Institute, supported by EUNIC London and the European Literature Network.

💡 BUT – you must meet the criteria! All the details and requirements explained in the link below.
Deadline: 27 January 2025.

UCL European Literary London Writer in Residence: Call for Expressions of Interest Jan 8, 2025 • No comments It is with great pleasure that UCL European Institute and UCL Faculty of Arts and Humanities invite expression of interest to join us for a four week period in Spring 2025 as a Writer in Re...