Latvian Literature

14/11/2025

Festival Les Boréales is ON, and Latvian authors can’t wait to meet you! Join us tomorrow at 5 PM in the Auditorium with writers Jānis Joņevs and Laura Vinogradova! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

Jānis Joņevs’ short story collection “Tiger” (Tigre) has been published in France by Les Argonautes Éditeur, translated by Nicolas Auzanneau. Laura Vinogradova’s novel “The River” (La rivière) is out in France from Les Éditions Bleu & Jaune, translated by Louise de Brisson.

14/11/2025

👏👏👏Jana Egle’s short story collection Into the Light (U svetlosti) has been published by the Serbian publishing house Partizanska knjiga! 🇷🇸✨

“Into the light is Egle’s prose debut. It includes eight stories whose themes connect with the not-so-sunny moments and aspects of life. Egle explores subjects that have been kept hidden or considered unsuitable for discussion – violence against women, pe******ia, transsexuality. The themes running through this collection are guilt, domestic abuse, helplessness – how these form, how they affect a person’s later behavior, what effects they have on the direction of one’s life. All eight stories are about family relationships – about brothers, about mothers and daughters, fathers and sons. Each story brings to light secrets or occurrences that are typically hidden and not spoken of in our society.”

The book is translated by Anna Sedláčková, originally published by Izdevniecība "Latvijas Mediji".

*** NOVO ***

U zbirci priča U svetlosti savremena letonska spisateljica Jana Egle donosi potresne, izuzetno precizno napisane pripovesti o nasilju, tišini i traumi, ali i o mogućnosti svetlosti nakon tame. Jezikom koji je istovremeno blag i neumoljiv, Egle gradi portrete žena, dece i porodica u borbi s nasleđem bola, stida i ljubavi.

Svaka priča u ovoj knjizi otvara pukotinu kroz koju dopire svetlost – svetlost sećanja, priznanja, razumevanja. Egle ume da u jednom detalju, u jednom pogledu ili gestu, prikaže čitav život, čitavu istoriju tišine.

U svetlosti je knjiga o onome što se ne govori, o granici između ljubavi i nasilja, o tome kako se postaje sopstveni svedok.

O autorki:

Jana Egle (1963) rođena je i ceo život provela u, verovatno, najoštrijem delu Letonije – Donjoj Kuroniji. Magistar je predškolske pedagogije, više od 30 godina je radila u vrtiću. Od devedesetih godina prošlog veka piše poeziju, a pisanjem proze je počela da se bavi tek posle pedesete. U svetlosti (Gaismā) je njena prva knjiga proze i za nju je 2017. dobila Letonsku književnu nagradu.

Sa letonskog prevela Ana Sedlačkova.

https://partizanskaknjiga.rs/product/u-svetlosti/

13/11/2025

"Cinderella did dirty work and ate dirty bread. None of the tomcats in Riga came for her kļiņgeris, like they did for girls with real mothers. Cinderella’s days were bitter as bread baked from chaff. Morning and evening she sat by the stove, her hair uncombed, picking flaxseeds from the ashes. The ashes were hot, but she patiently sieved through them, blowing through her fingers and gathering the brown kernels in her palm. These her stepmother threw back into the cinders, so she would always have work to do."👠🥨

Asymptote, the premier site for world literature in translation, features a translation of Latvian classic Kārlis Skalbe’s fairy tale “Cinderella” in its Translation Tuesday series! The translation is by Ian T. Gwin.

When she had looked at the new moon, she saw a huntsman, who had gotten lost in the green forest and blew his horn with a golden cornet.

13/11/2025

👏👏👏Maira Dobele’s and Rebeka Lukošus' comic book “Es tevi gaidīju” (我在等你) has been included in the international exhibition “Children Plus – COMICS: Exploring the World, One Bubble at a Time”, which will be showcased at the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair - CCBF from November 14 to 16! Originally published in Latvia by liels un mazs.

The exhibition is divided into two sections: international and domestic. The exhibition will showcase around 300 international titles, celebrating comics as an art form and a learning tool. A dedicated panel will explore this theme in depth.

The China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF) is held under the guidance of the Press and Publication Administration, organised by the Shanghai Press & Publication Administration, China Education Publishing & Media Group Ltd., and China Universal Press & Publication Co., Ltd., co-or...

13/11/2025

📚Anete Melece’s book “Stella’s Stolen Sleep” (Stelin sanak) has just been published by Bajkologija in Bosnia and Herzegovina!

😴😴😴It’s time to go to bed, but toddler Stella can’t fall asleep even after nine bedtime stories. A quick check with the Sleep Helpline and it turns out Stella’s sleep is missing, presumed stolen. This calls for a serious investigation, and detectives Hippo, Flamingo, and Bobby get to work. They check everywhere and question everyone before discovering that the sleep was delivered to a room where no one dared to look — the home off ice where Mum was working late that night.

The book was translated by Santa Domjan Zviedre, originally published by liels un mazs.

USKORO

Najavljujemo novu slikovnicu u izdanju Bajkologije. ☺️

"Svaki roditelj zna da je lakše zaspati uz dobru priču. To dobro znaju Stela i njen tata. Ali, ni nakon devet pročitanih priča, Stela nikako ne može zaspati! Je li neko ukrao njen sanak? U pomoć stižu istražioci nilski konj i flamingo, te njihov vjerni pomoćnik Bobito. Ova nova slikovnica dolazi iz pera Anete Melece, autorice slavnog animiranog filma i slikovnice Kiosk. Nastala je iz male svakodnevne muke poznate svim roditeljima – večernjeg uspavljivanja djece. Šta kada su sve bajke pročitane i svjetla ugašena? Tada valja smisliti još jednu priču."

Uskoro na našim policama. ☺️

Latvian Literature

12/11/2025

Fantastic news! 🎉

Nora Ikstena’s bestselling novel Soviet Milk (சோவியத் பால்) has just been published in yet another language — Tamil!

📘 Published by: எதிர் வெளியீடு / Ethir Veliyeedu
🌐 Translated by: அசதா / Asadha (A Sagaya Arockiadass)

Originally published by Dienas Grāmata

12/11/2025

Last week, writer Andris Kalnozols visited the PesText festival in Budapest to present the Hungarian edition of his novel “Szólíts Naptárnak” (Call Me Calendar). 📅📅📅

Here’s a little glimpse of how it went!

The book was published by Prae Kiadó and translated by Orsolya Kis. Originally published by Orbīta.



📸 Photo: Dóra Vörös

12/11/2025

🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷Tomorrow, the Festival Les Boréales festival starts in Normandy. This year, the festival focuses on the Baltic countries – Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. 🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪

Latvia will be represented by three writers: Laura Vinogradova, Jānis Joņevs, and Signe Viška. During the festival, visitors can also see an exhibition by the poetry group Orbīta.

The program includes Baltic films, theatre, music, and food – plenty to discover and enjoy!

Check out the full festival program here:
👉 https://www.calameo.com/read/00717127400b8812a3dab

And here’s an article (in French) about one of the Latvian participants, Jānis Joņevs:
👉 https://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/caen-14000/festival-les-boreales/festival-les-boreales-une-rencontre-avec-lauteur-letton-janis-jonevs-a-la-mediatheque-de-lisieux-429a53c2-b984-11f0-b227-510f72443e00?fbclid=IwY2xjawOBJf5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEesdjKAkRrFKFTrmbLKS5k71bX4nR_O7QPEq4gOdz_ulp6mEjM1Pw40dUogYQ_aem_B6Q0xpjLi99pXbSGCxeYGQ

Le Festival Les Boréales aura lieu du 13 au 23 novembre à Caen et dans toute la Normandie.

La 33e édition du festival est consacrée aux Pays Baltes : Estonie, Lituanie, Lettonie.

Concerts, spectacles, rencontres littéraires, expositions, cinéma, gastronomie rythmeront ces 10 jours de festival.

En savoir plus sur la programmation : https://www.lesboreales.com/

11/11/2025

We would like to express our gratitude to the Sharjah Book Authority, Emirates Publishers Association, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, and Emma House for the wonderful opportunity to take part in the 15th Sharjah International Publishers Conference, followed by the Sharjah International Book Fair.

The Latvian Literature Platform was represented by Žanete Vēvere Pasqualini, who had an amazing opportunity to meet publishers from all six continents and to create lasting connections. Any traces of introversion quickly melted away thanks to the warm hospitality of our hosts. 🌍📚✨

11/11/2025

🇱🇻 Today Latvia marks Lāčplēsis Day, a day of remembrance for all the heroes who fell in Latvia’s fight for freedom.

This period in Latvian history is vividly depicted in Aleksandrs Grīns’ novel “Blizzard of Souls” (Dvēseļu putenis).

🇪🇪Fittingly, today in Estonia, the Estonian translation of this epic historical novel—originally written in 1934, translated by Contra, and published by "Grenader" —is being officially launched. 📖✨

👉The event will take place in Tartu 11th November, 2025 18:00

The programme:

• Opening remarks by H.E.Mrs Kristīne Našeniece, Ambassador of Latvia
• Remarks by Mr. Peeter Tali, Chairman of the Estonia-Latvia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu
• Remarks by Contra, poet and translator (in Estonian, with interpretation into the English)
• Lecture “Latvian Riflemen in the First World War: History, Memory, Significance” by Mg. hist. Jānis Tomaševskis, Historian, Latvian War Museum.
• Refreshments

Embassy of Latvia in Estonia

Embassy of Latvia in Estonia kindly invites to attend the opening of the Estonian language edition of Aleksandrs Grīns novel “Blizzard of Souls” - "Hingetuisk" (“Dvēseļu putenis”).
This epic historical novel is written in 1934, translated by Contra and published by publishing house “Grenader”.

The event will take place in Tartu 11 November 2025 18-00 – 21-00
at the “Typa” Centre, Kastani tn 48f (Aparaaditehas)

The programme:
• Opening remarks by H.E.Mrs Kristīne Našeniece, Ambassador of Latvia
• Remarks by Mr. Peeter Tali, Chairman of the Estonia-Latvia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu
• Remarks by Contra, poet and translator (in Estonian, with interpretation into the English)
• Lecture “Latvian Riflemen in the First World War: History, Memory, Significance” by Mg. hist. Jānis Tomaševskis, Historian, Latvian War Museum.
• Refreshments

The Blizzard of Souls is a semi-autobiographical war story where the main protagonist is a young Latvian schoolboy who enlists in a Latvian Riflemen battalion and participates in battles of the First World War and Latvian War of Independence. Aleksandrs Grīns had written the novel about the birth and maturity of Latvian nation and country- how the independence idea is born, matures and comes true. At the same time the story carries a timeless and powerful anti-war message.

The event is organised in the framework of the celebrations of the 107th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia and supported by Latvian Literature, Latvijas Kara muzejs/Latvian War Museum, Riigikogu (Estonia-Latvia Parliamentary Friendship Group), publishing house “Grenader”.

Please register by 4 November 2025 at [email protected]

11/11/2025

🌟 Great news! 🌟

Lilija Berzinska’s book “Lo scheletro nell’armadio" (The Skeleton in the Closet) has been selected as one of the finalists for the prestigious Italian literary award Premio Letteratura Ragazzi di Cento in the Primary School category! 🇮🇹📚

The Jury evaluated 198 books from 66 publishing houses and, after extensive discussion, selected two sets of finalists: one for pupils in third, fourth, and fifth grades of primary school, and the other for students in lower secondary school.

👏 Congratulations to the author Lilija Berzinska, translators Rita Tura and Margherita Carbonaro, illustrator Anna Vaivare the Italian publisher Iperborea Casa Editrice, and the Latvian publisher Dienas Grāmata!

More information: https://sestopotere.com/annunciati-i-libri-finalisti-della-47-edizione-del-premio-letteratura-ragazzi-di-cento/