Andrus Kivirähk

Andrus Kivirähk
Andrus Kivirähk at the annual Literary Street festival 2021 in Tallinn, Estonia
Andrus Kivirähk at the annual Literary Street festival 2021 in Tallinn, Estonia
Born (1970-08-17) 17 August 1970 (age 54)
Tallinn, Estonia
NationalityEstonian

Andrus Kivirähk (born 17 August 1970) is an Estonian writer, a playwright, topical satirist, and screenwriter. As of 2004, 25,000 copies of his novel Rehepapp ehk November (Old Barny or November) had been sold, making him the most popular 21st-century Estonian writer. His book Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu (The Man Who Spoke Snakish) (2007) has been one of the top selling books in Estonia. He has been a member of the Estonian Writers' Union (in Estonian: Eesti Kirjanike Liit) since 1996.

Radio work

Andrus Kivirähk and Mart Juur host a humorous and satirical weekly radio show, Rahva Oma Kaitse (People's Own Defense), on the Raadio 2 channel of Estonian public broadcaster ERR. Every time the Eurovision Song Contest takes place, it is also aired on Raadio 2, and Juur and Kivirähk air a 'special' on top of the live broadcast.

Publications in Estonian

Children's books

  • Tilda ja tolmuingel (Tilda and the Dust Angel), FD Distribution 2018, illustrated by Takinada
  • Karneval ja kartulisalat (Carnival and Potato Salad), Varrak 2015, illustrated by Heiki Ernits
  • Oskar ja asjad (Oskar and the Things), Film Distribution 2015, illustrated by Anne Pikkov
  • Konna musi (A Frog Kiss), Varrak 2013, illustrated by Anne Pikkov
  • Kaka ja kevad (Poo and Spring), Varrak 2009, illustrated by Heiki Ernits
  • Leiutajateküla Lotte (Lotte from Gadgetville), Eesti Joonisfilm 2006, illustrated by Heiki Ernits
  • Limpa ja mereröövlid (Limpa and the Pirates), Varrak 2004, 2009, 2013, 2018, illustrated by Anni Mäger
  • Lotte reis Lõunamaale (Lotte’s Journey South), Varrak 2002; Eesti Joonisfilm 2012, illustrated by Regina Lukk-Toompere
  • Sibulad ja šokolaad (Onions and Chocolate), Varrak 2002, illustrated by Ivo Uukkivi (collection of children’s plays: Rich Ill Will Has No Bounds; Pill Bug and Pill Bug; Mice in the Attic; Brave Kefir)
  • Sirli, Siim ja saladused (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets), Varrak 1st ed. 1999, 9th ed. 2015, illustrated by Ilmar Trull
  • Kaelkirjak (Giraffe), Tiritamm 1995, illustrated by Anu Kalm; Tänapäev 2000, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2016, illustrated by Heiki Ernits

Awards

  • 2018 Annual Children's Literature Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (Tilda and the Dust Angel)
  • 2018 "Järje Hoidja" Award of the Tallinn Central Library (Tilda and the Dust Angel)
  • 2018 Good Children's Book (Tilda and the Dust Angel)
  • 2016 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award candidate
  • 2016 Tartu Prize for Children's Literature (Childhood Prize) (Oskar and the Things)
  • 2016 Eduard Vilde Literary Award (Oskar and the Things)
  • 2016 Nukits Competition, 2nd place (Carnival and Potato Salad)
  • 2015 Good Children's Book (Oskar and the Things)
  • 2015 The White Ravens (Big Toell)
  • 2013 Jānis Baltvilks Prize (Jāņa Baltvilka balva), Latvia (Poo and Spring)
  • 2013 Good Children's Book (A Frog Kiss)
  • 2012 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award candidate
  • 2011 Jānis Baltvilks Prize (Jāņa Baltvilka balva), Latvia (Lotte from Gadgetville)
  • 2010 Nukits Competition, 1st place (Poo and Spring)
  • 2010 Children and Young Adult Jury (Bērnu un jauniešu žūrija), Latvia, 2nd place (Grades 5–7) (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets)
  • 2008 IBBY Honour List (Lotte from Gadgetville)
  • 2008 Nukits Competition, 1st place (Lotte from Gadgetville)
  • 2007 Republic of Estonia State Culture Award for 2006 Creative Achievements (Lotte from Gadgetville, and plays)
  • 2006 Nukits Competition, 1st place (Limpa and the Pirates)
  • 2005 Estonian Children's Literature Centre Raisin of the Year Award (Bed-time stories for Estonian fathers, together with the collection's other authors)
  • 2004 The Order of the White Star, V class
  • 2004 Nukits Competition, 2nd place (Lotte's Journey South)
  • 2004 "Järje Hoidja" Award of the Tallinn Central Library (Limpa and the Pirates)
  • 2000 Annual Cultural Endowment of Estonia Award (animated feature film Lotte, together with Heiki Ernits, Janno Põldma, Regina Lukk-Toompere and Olav Ehala)

Translations

Dutch

  • De man die de taal van slangen sprak. (Prometheus, 2015)

English

  • The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Grove Press Atlantic 2015)

Finnish

  • Kun Musti muni mummon (Carnival and Potato Salad, selected stories, WSOY 2018)
  • Koiranne alkaa kohta kukkia (Poo and Spring), Otava 2016
  • Keksijäkylän Lotta (Lotte from Gadgetville, Otava 2008)
  • Riihiukko (Old Barny, Otava 2000), translated by Kaisu Lahikainen

French

  • L'Homme qui savait la langue des serpents (The Man Who Spoke Snakish, Le Tripode 2013)
  • Le Papillon (The Butterfly, Le Tripode 2017)
  • Les Groseilles de novembre (Le Tripode 2014)

German

  • Frösche küssen (A Frog Kiss, Willegoos 2015)
  • Der Schiet und das Frühjahr (Poo and Spring, Willegoos 2015)
  • Der Mann, der mit Schlangen sprach (The Man Who Spoke Snakish, Klett-Cotta 2017)

Hungarian

  • Kék vagon (Helesinine vagun, Kráter Műhely Egyesület 2005)
  • Sári, Samu és a titkok (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets, Cerkabella 2008)
  • Breviárium (Észt Intézet / Pluralica 2011)
  • Az ember, aki beszélte a kígyók nyelvét ( Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu, Typotex 2015)
  • Ördöngős idők (Rehepapp ehk november, Gondolat Kiadói Kör 2018)
  • Szépséges kék állat (Sinine sarvedega loom, Gondolat Kiadó, 2021)

Italian

  • Lotte. L’avventuroso viaggio al sud (Lotte’s Journey South, De Bastiani 2019)
  • L'uomo che sapeva la lingua dei serpenti (La nave di Teseo, 2022)

Latvian

Lithuanian

  • Sirlė, Simas ir slėpiniai (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets; Kronta, 2010)
  • Žmogus, mokėjęs gyvačių kalbą (The Man Who Spoke Snakish; translated by Agnė Bernotaitė-Jakubčionienė; Vilnius: Aukso žuvys, 2020)
  • Jaujininkas (Rehepapp ehk November; translated by Milda Kurpniece; Vilnius: Aukso žuvys, 2023)

Low German

  • De Schiet un dat Fröhjohr (Poo and Spring, Plaggenhauer 2015)

Polish

  • Oskar i rzeczy (Oskar and the Things, Widnokrąg 2018)
  • Człowiek, który znał mowę węży (The Man Who Spoke Snakish, Marpress 2020, translated by Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki)
  • Listopadowe porzeczki (Old Barny, Wydawnictwo Literackie 2021, translated by Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki)

Russian

  • Оскар и вещи (Oskar and the Things, КПД 2019)
  • Путешествие Лотты в тёплые края (Lotte’s Journey South, Eesti Joonisfilm 2017)
  • Карнавал и картофельный салат (Carnival and Potato Salad, Varrak 2016)
  • Поцелуй лягушку! (A Frog Kiss, Varrak 2014)
  • Весна и какашка (Poo and Spring, Tallinn: Varrak 2010)
  • Лимпа и пираты (Limpa and the Pirates, Varrak 2009)
  • Лотте из Деревни Изобретателей (Lotte from Gadgetville, Eesti Päevaleht 2009)
  • Жираф (Giraffe, КПД 2008)
  • Сирли, Сийм и секреты (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets, КПД 2008)

Slovenian

  • Sara, Simon in skrivnosti (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets, KUD Sodobnost International 2015)

Japanese

  • HEBI NO KOTOBA WO HANASHITA OTOKO published by KAWADE SHOBO SHINSHA, Publishers, translator: Ryoko Sekiguchi(Translated form French L'Homme qui savait la langue des serpents)

References

  • Heinapuu, Ott; Kikas, Katre (2004). "Folk Belief or Anecdote? On the Genre Logic of Rehepapp by Andrus Kivirähk in the Context of Folklore Genres" (PDF). Folklore. 26. Tartu, Estonia: Institute of Estonian Language, Estonian Folklore Archives: 101–112. doi:10.7592/FEJF2004.26.rehepapp. ISSN 1406-0957. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  • Estonian Literature Information Centre