Gert Helbemäe

Gert Helbemäe (birth name Gert-Joachim Einborn; 10 November 1913 Tallinn – 15 July 1974 London) was an Estonian writer and journalist. He is known mainly for his historical novels and short stories.[1]

From 1921 to 1933 he studied in Tallinn French Lyceum.[1]

In 1930s he was an executive editor for several newspapers and magazines: Eesti Pildileht, Roheline Post, and Film ja Elu.[1]

In 1944, he fled to Lübeck in Germany.[2] In 1947 he moved to London,[2] and he applied for naturalization in 1952.[3] In London, he issued the newspaper Eesti Hääl, and from 1960 he was also its editor.[2] He also belonged to the board of the Estonian Writers' Cooperative.[1]

He kept pet chipmunks,[4] which are featured in his 1968 work Minni ja Miku: Kaks vöötoravat (published in English as A Chipmunk on my Shoulder).[2][5]

He is buried at Gunnersbury Cemetery in Kensington.[1]

Works

• 1947: short story collection Vaikija (The Silent One)
• 1955: novel Õekesed (The Little Sisters)
• 1957–1958: novel Sellest mustast mungast I and II (About that Black Monk, I and II)
• 1960: novel Ohvrilaev (The Ship to Delos)
• 1968: Minni ja Miku: Kaks vöötoravat (published in English as A Chipmunk on my Shoulder)[5]

References

1. Vabar, Sven. "Gert Helbemäe". sisu.ut.ee. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
2. "Book about Two Chipmunks". Leicester Mercury. Leicester, England. November 22, 1969. p. 12. Retrieved January 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Notice ... Gert-Joachim Helbemae". Kensington and Chelsea News. Kensington and Chelsea, London, England. May 27, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved January 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Saga of the Shy Chipmunks". Kensington and Chelsea News. Kensington, England. December 12, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved January 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Chimney-Top Life for a Chipmunk". Daily Record. Glasgow, Scotland. December 5, 1969. p. 32. Retrieved January 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.