Estonian writer
Juhan Liiv
(30 April [
O.S.
18 April] 1864 – 1 December [
O.S.
18 November] 1913) is one of
Estonia
's most famous poets and prose writers.
Childhood
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Juhan (birth name Johannes) Liiv, the son of Benjamin and Marianna Liiv (nee Parn), was born on 30 April 1864, in Alatskivi Parish (now
Peipsiaare Parish
), in the
Kreis Dorpat
of the
Governorate of Livonia
. He grew up in
Rupsi
village, on Oja farm owned by his family.
[1]
[2]
Liiv grew up in a poor and devoutly religious family and was second youngest of eight children; three of whom died in infancy, including his only two sisters Liisa and Miina. His older brother
Jakob
also became a poet. At home, he and his siblings were raised to be staunch
Christians
and his parents were quick to reprimand any small transgression.
[2]
Despite their
poverty
and
religion
, Liiv's parents understood the importance of education and invested what little money they had towards their children's schooling.
[1]
[3]
He first studied at Naelavere Village School, then at Kodavere Parish School. After going through both schools his parents then sent him to
Dorpat
(present-day Tartu) to study at the
Hugo Treffner Gymnasium
, in 1886, but he was unable to adjust to the school and left after six months.
[4]
Liiv spent most of his childhood alone, isolated from other children his age, due in part, to chronic childhood illnesses. Illness forced Liiv to leave school and return home, where he wrote poetry and occasional columns for the
Olevik
newspaper. His poetry starkly contrasted that of his contemporaries, and was therefore largely ignored.
Short stories
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Liiv finally achieved success in 1894 when his first short story,
Vari
(
The Shadow
), was published. It was dark and gloomy, foreshadowing his future works of both prose and poetry.
[3]
Many readers draw a comparison between Liiv and the main character of the story, Villu, who is physically weak but strong in mind.
Liiv continued to write several more short stories, but none are as famous as
Vari
.
Mental illness
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Shortly after
Vari
was released, Liiv became a patient in a psychiatric clinic in Tartu. Liiv was diagnosed with
schizophrenia
. He variably thought he was the son of the Emperor
Alexander II
, the king of
Poland
and Estonian poet
Lydia Koidula
. His struggles with mental illness continued until his death.
Poetry
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]
In 1909,
Friedebert Tuglas
met with Liiv. A book containing 495
poems
by Liiv was published late that year.
Many of Liiv's poems are dominated by a sense of gloom, probably brought on by his
mental illnesses
,
poverty
and lack of human
friendships
. The few poems with a less ominous tone describe nature and Liiv's adoration for his
country
.
His poems include:
- The Axe and the Forest
- Who Does Not Remember the Past (is Living Without the Future)
- To The Poets
- I Saw
Estonia
Yesterday
- Come Now, Night Darkness
- Cold
- Snowflake
Death
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In late 1913, Liiv was found aboard a train without a ticket because he could not afford one. He was thrown off into a deserted area and walked home. By the time he arrived, however, he had been in freezing temperatures for two weeks and had contracted a fatal case of
pneumonia
. He died on 1 December 1913.
The Juhan Liiv Prize for Poetry
[
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]
The Juhan Liiv Prize for Poetry was founded in 1965. It is awarded by the parish of
Alatskivi
on 30 April every year. The prize is a leather shepherd's bag hand-made by a local artist.
References
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]
External links
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