Betti Alver

Elisabet "Betti" Alver (23 November [O.S. 10 November] 1906 in Jõgeva – 19 June 1989 in Tartu) (from the year 1937 Elisabet Talvik, and from the year 1956 Elisabet Lepik),[1] was one of Estonia's most notable poets. She was among the first generation to be educated in schools of an independent Estonia. She went to grammar school in Tartu.[2]

The Betti Alver Museum in Jõgeva

Betti Alver
Born
Elisabet Alver

(1906-11-23)23 November 1906
Jõgeva, Estonia, Russian Empire
Died19 June 1989(1989-06-19) (aged 82)
Tartu, Estonia
Other namesElisabet Talvik
Elisabet Lepik
OccupationPoet
Years active1922–1989
Spouse(s)Heiti Talvik, Mart Lepik

Writing

She began as a prose writer. She became known for being a member of the Arbujad ("Soothsayers"), a small group of influential Estonian poets including Bernard Kangro, Uku Masing, Kersti Merilaas, Mart Raud, August Sang, Heiti Talvik and Paul Viiding. After the war her husband Heiti Talvik was imprisoned by the Soviets and died in Siberia.[3] For two or three decades she was silent as a poet as protest of Soviet rule, but renewed activity in the 1960s. Of note in this second period is the 1966 collection Tähetund or "Starry Hour." She also wrote novels and did translation work.[4] On the hundredth anniversary of her birth a museum was dedicated to her in Jõgeva.[5]

References
  1. "Columbia dictionary of modern European literature By Jean Albert Bédé, William Benbow Edgerton". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  2. "Estonian Literary Magazine". Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  3. "Estonian Literature Information Centre". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  4. Cummins, W.M.; Debeljak, A.; Haderlap, M.; Ihan, A.; Potokar, J.; Šalamun, T. (1993). Shifting Borders: East European Poetries of the Eighties. Foreign Policy; 9. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-0-8386-3497-4.
  5. "Jõgeva site". Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
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