Selected Excerpts
This collection of excerpts is intended as an introduction to contemporary Estonian literature. Here, you will find a sampling of twelve prize-winning Estonian novels, with each extract translated into English. The book aims to familiarize readers with works that have not yet been published in English.
Winner of the Eduard Vilde Literary Award, this novel begins with a mysterious stranger arriving in a small town dominated by a group of men who recently defrauded his supposed sister of her inheritance. Resigned to her fate, Laila accepts her loss, but her brother is determined to seek justice. His arrival triggers a dramatic shift in fortunes, inciting the powerful men to plot their revenge. Meanwhile, a scheming paralegal is intent on uncovering the stranger's true identity. This is the first novel by Rein Raud to be published in English, described by the author as a spaghetti western in poetic prose, blending influences from Clint Eastwood and Alessandro Baricco. With well-developed characters and a fast-paced narrative, it explores mythic themes and philosophical questions about identity and the harsh realities of a world divided into winners and losers. Raud has authored four poetry collections, six novels, and various short fiction works. He is also a scholar in Japanese studies and has translated numerous Japanese texts into Estonian. Adam Cullen, the translator, was born in Minneapolis and now lives in Tallinn, where he has translated various plays, stories, and novels.