5 Books by Latvian Authors for Those Who Want to Understand the Country’s Culture Better

The “Dainas” by Krišjānis Barons (1835–1923)

The dainas are short folk songs capturing the essence of peasant life in its many facets, from working in the fields to wedding rituals. Typically written as quatrains or sextets, each daina offers an observation, lesson, or emotional reflection.

Krišjānis Barons is the man we have to thank for preserving and presenting these dainas to us, enabling us to immerse ourselves in the unique atmosphere of peasant life as told firsthand. Barons’ contributions are often compared to those of the ancient Greek poet Homer. For over 40 years, he traveled across Latvia’s farthest reaches, collecting, classifying, and publishing these folk songs. He recorded them on small slips of paper, measuring just 3 x 11 cm, sized to fit into cigarette boxes, which he used for storage. By 1880, the collection had grown so large that the “cigarette box method” was no longer practical. Barons then designed a special Dainu Skapis (Daina Cabinet), which remains intact to this day and holds 268,815 slips filled with folk songs, proverbs, and riddles.

Barons’ work was one of the first significant efforts to showcase that Latvians, long under subjugation, are a distinct people with an ancient and unique history and culture. Themes explored in the dainas include rituals and traditions (many centered on weddings), agricultural life, societal structure, mythological songs, and the passage of time in nature. These songs provide not only a window into the past but also a way to understand how it shapes the present.

Today, the dainas are compiled into a five-volume collection, with a digital version accessible on the website dainuskapis.lv. The original Dainu Skapis can be seen in the Latvian National Library, offering a tangible link to this remarkable cultural heritage.

The “Bille” Trilogy by Vizma Belševica (1931–2005)

Latvian writer, poet, and translator Vizma Belševica is often described as a symbol of the resilience of the Latvian people—a small yet proud nation that, despite its traumatic historical events, could not be broken.

The central themes of her work, alongside her exploration of personal emotional experiences, revolve around the preservation of dignity and the self-awareness of the Latvian people. In her writings, she not only addressed the issues of historical and political processes she witnessed but also openly and boldly opposed violence and oppression—the direct consequences of those processes. She believed: “If a writer sees that their people or language are in danger, they must speak out.” Despite the challenges she faced, Vizma retained a deep inner peace and an immense love for life, which shines brightly in her creative work.

Her most notable prose work, partially autobiographical, is the Bille trilogy, which tells the story of a girl named Bille growing up during a time of major social and political upheaval.

The first book of the trilogy focuses on Bille’s early childhood in the 1930s. Despite a difficult life in a poor family, a lack of parental attention, and a world where her individuality is disregarded, Bille finds a harmless weapon to cope with her circumstances: her extraordinary imagination.

The second book, Bille and the War, immerses readers in Bille’s life from the 1940s to the end of World War II, a time of dual occupation in Latvia. It recounts the experiences of an older Bille in a world turned upside down by war—a world that robbed her of childhood. This book delves into the wartime world, the human struggle to live within it, and how, despite everything, individuals can still retain their humanity.

The trilogy concludes with The Wonderful Youth of Bille. The brief joy of the war’s end is soon replaced by the hardships of post-war Soviet life. Though there is little reason for celebration, Bille, just as she did in her childhood, persistently fights for her happiness. Like her creator, Vizma Belševica, she finds solace and strength in books and creativity.

The trilogy is not just an excellent exploration of Latvia’s history; it is also a guide to how one can ignite their inner fire even amidst the harshest trials—and simply refuse to give up.

“Epiphanies” by Imants Ziedonis (1933–2013)

The soul of the Latvian people

The Epiphanies of Latvian poet and prose writer Imants Ziedonis, whose remarkable talent we have already mentioned, are unique prose poems—an emotional and philosophical dialogue with the reader. As Ziedonis himself described them, they are “small impulses, tiny flashes whose light vividly illuminates individual moments of life from the darkness.” In his Epiphanies, Ziedonis writes about feelings—and does so in a way that makes it impossible to remain indifferent. Unlike other works in this selection, Epiphanies do not mention the history or culture of the Latvian people; they have long since become a part of that culture.

Nora Ikstena is arguably the most renowned contemporary writer in Latvia. Her work spans novels, short stories, biographies, and essays. She has received numerous literary awards both in Latvia and internationally, frequently appears on global television programs, and has firmly established herself as a key promoter of Latvian literature. “A book you’ve read is like a true friend, like love, like a close person. Finding your book is like meeting someone close—you live with them for a while,” Nora once said. For many, that transformative book has been her own 2015 novel, Soviet Milk. The book has inspired several stage adaptations, and in 2023, it was made into a film.

Soviet Milk tells the story of the difficult lives of three generations of Latvian women. Maternal milk serves as a metaphor for the deprivations they endured. This deeply philosophical text explores themes of self-formation, humanity, talent, madness, and, perhaps most importantly, forgiveness. Set against the backdrop of the 1970s, its central characters are strong women. Although the novel portrays a painful era in the history of the country and its people, it ultimately celebrates the resilience to “cherish life” in any circumstances, leaving readers with a lingering sense of lightness and hope.

“With Dance Shoes in Siberian Snows” by Sandra Kalniete (b. 1952)

“There is no Latvian family without its own story of Siberia and loved ones lost in its cold vastness.”

The years 1941 and 1949 are etched into Latvia’s collective memory as times of mass deportations by Soviet authorities. Over 60,000 innocent people were forcibly sent to Siberia.

Sandra Kalniete’s family was among those deported. Her grandparents did not survive, but her parents managed to return. Their experiences deeply shaped her childhood, and Kalniete felt compelled to share these stories. Her book details the horrors of deportation: overcrowded train cars, separated families, grueling labor, and unrelenting hunger and cold. Drawing from family memories, survivor accounts, and archival research, Kalniete offers a harrowing yet hopeful narrative about those who survived and preserved their humanity.

The book inspired a theatrical adaptation by Riga’s Russian Theatre in 2023. Performances, in both Latvian and Russian, are accompanied by discussions on its themes.