Lehte Hainsalu facts for kids
Lehte Hainsalu (born October 31, 1938) is a well-known writer and poet from Estonia. She is famous for her books and poems, but she also played an important role in her country's history as a public figure. Her married name is Lehte Sööt.
Early Life and Education
Lehte Hainsalu was born in Haaslava Parish, a part of Tartu County in Estonia. She was always interested in language and stories. This led her to study at the famous Tartu State University.
In 1961, she graduated with a degree in Estonian philology. Philology is the study of a country's language and its literature. This means she became an expert in the Estonian language and all the great books and poems written in it.
A Career with Words
After finishing her studies, Lehte put her skills to use in many interesting jobs. She worked for a newspaper called Edasi and for the Tartu studios of Eesti Televisioon, which is Estonia's main television station. She also worked for a time at the Tartu Widget Factory (in Estonian: Tartu Aparaaditehas).
From 1981 to 1990, she held an important position as the head of the Tartu office of the Estonian Writers' Union. This group supports and represents writers all across Estonia.
A Voice for Change
In 1980, Estonia was part of the Soviet Union. Many people were unhappy with the government's control. Lehte Hainsalu was one of 40 brave public figures and intellectuals who signed a famous document called the Letter of 40 intellectuals.
This letter was a public protest. It called for more freedom and respect for the Estonian language and culture. Signing it was a risky thing to do, but it showed her courage and love for her country.
Famous Books and Poems
Lehte Hainsalu has written many books and collections of poetry. She has received several awards for her work, including the Friedebert Tuglas short story award in 1987. She also won the Karl Eduard Sööt Prize for Children's Poetry twice, in 1992 and 2015.
Here are a few of her well-known works:
- Sõnajala õis (1957) - A collection of poems.
- Pigilinnu laul (1967) - A novel.
- Ainsa ööga läbi maa (1980) - A collection of poems.
- Lapsed lennand tuulde (2003) - A collection of poems.
- Vastamata kõne (2011) - A novel.
