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  • Toms Harjo

Nora Ikstena

Biography

Nora Ikstena is a prose writer and essayist. Ikstena is one of the most visible and influential prose writers in Latvia, known for elaborat style and detailed approach to language. After obtaining a degree in Philology from the University of Latvia in 1992, she went on to study English literature at Columbia University. In her prose, Nora Ikstena often reflects on life, love, death and faith. Soviet Milk (2015, shortlisted for the Annual Literature Award for best prose), Besa (2012), Celebration of Life (1998), The Virgin's Lesson (2001) are some of her most widely appreciated novels.

The novel Amour Fou has been staged for theatre, and published in Russian (2010); other works have been translated into Lithuanian, Estonian, Georgian, Swedish, Danish, etc. Ikstena is also a prolific author of biographical fiction, non-fiction, scripts, essays, and collections of short prose. Her collection Life Stories (2004) was published in English in 2013, and Hindi in 2015. Her story Elza Kuga’s Old Age Dementia was included in the "Best European Fiction 2011" anthology.
Ikstena is an active participant in Latvia's cultural and political life, and a co-founder of the International Writers and Translators’ House in Ventspils. In 2006, she received the Baltic Assembly Prize in literature.

Bibliography

Mātes piens / Soviet Milk (Riga: Dienas Grāmata)
Ulubeles pasakas / Fairy-Tales of Ulubele (Riga: Dienas Grāmata)
Dievmātesdraudzene / The Friend of Our Lady (Riga: DienasGrāmata)
Dzīvespriecīgais vakarēdiens / The Joyful Supper (Riga: DienasGrāmata)
Besa (Riga: Mansards)
Vīrs zilajā lietusmētelītī / The Man in a Blue Raincoat (Riga: Dienas Grāmata)
Amour Fou (Riga: Dienas Grāmata)
Šokolādes Jēzus / Chocolate Jesus (Riga: DienasGrāmata)
Esamība ar Regīnu / Being With Regina (Riga: DienasGrāmata)
Sīlis spoguļstiklā / A Jay in the Mirror Glass (Riga: DienasGrāmata)
Dzīvesstāsti / Life Stories (Riga: Atēna)
Pasakas ar beigām / Fairy-tales with Endings (Riga: Pētergailis)
Jaunavas mācība / The Virgin's Lesson (Riga: Atēna)
Dzīves svinēšana / Celebration of Life (Riga: Atēna)
Maldīgas romances / Deceptive Romances (Riga: Jāņasēta)
Nieki un izpriecas / Trifles and Joys (Riga: Karogs)

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