Ain Kaalep facts for kids
Ain Kaalep (born June 4, 1926 – died June 9, 2020) was an Estonian writer. He was known as a poet, a writer of plays, a literary critic, and a translator.
Life and Work
Ain Kaalep was born in Tartu, Estonia. He went to the Hugo Treffner Gymnasium for high school. Later, he studied at the University of Tartu. He finished his studies in 1956, focusing on Finno-Ugric languages, which are a group of languages spoken in Northern Europe and Asia.
During a difficult time in history, he volunteered to fight in the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200. After the war, he was held by the Soviet authorities who were in charge of Estonia at that time.
From 1989 to 2001, Kaalep was the main editor for a journal called Akadeemia. In 2002, he taught for a year as a professor of Liberal Arts at the University of Tartu. Liberal Arts means studying many different subjects like history, literature, and philosophy.
Kaalep was also a member of the Congress of Estonia. This was a group formed in 1990 to help Estonia regain its independence.
He mostly wrote collections of poetry. He also translated many books and poems into Estonian from different languages. These languages included German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Catalan, Ukrainian, Polish, English, Galician, Provençal, Turkish, Tajik, Uzbek, Georgian, Finnish, Latin, and Ancient Greek. He translated works by famous writers like Bertolt Brecht, Federico García Lorca, and Charles Baudelaire.
His son, Ruuben Kaalep, is a politician.
Awards and Recognition
Ain Kaalep received many awards for his work:
- Juhan Smuul literary award (1977, 1985)
- Juhan Liiv poetry award (1984)
- Estonian State Cultural Awards (1995, 2002)
He received the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd class (1996). This is a high honor in Estonia.- He became an honorary citizen of Elva (1998).
He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour (2001). This is a very important award from France.- He received the University of Tartu award called “Contribution to Estonian National Identity” (2008). This award recognized his work in helping to shape Estonia's unique culture.
- Wiedemann Language Award (2010)
- Jaan Kross literary award (2010)
- He became an honorary citizen of Tartu and received the Grand Cross of Tartu (2014).
- He was made an honorary member of the Pallas society (2016).
Main Works
Here are some of Ain Kaalep's published works:
- Aomaastikud (1962)
- Samarkandi vihik (poetry, 1962)
- Iidamast ja Aadamast ehk Antimantikulaator (play, 1967)
- Järvemaastikud (1968)
- Mäe veri (Totomauna) (play, 1970)
- Klaasmaastikud (1971)
- Paani surm ja teisi luuletusi (1976)
- Peegelmaastikud (I 1976, II 1980)
- Kuldne Aphrodite ja teisi luuletusi (1986)
- Maavallast ja maailmakirjandusest (essays and literary criticism, 1984)
- Minu silmad ja sinu silmad (play, 1965)
- Kolm Lydiat (essays and literary criticism, 1997)
- Haukamaa laulu (1999)
- Jumalatosin (2008)
- Muusad ja maastikud. Luuletusi aastaist 1945–2008 (2008)
