Aliis Aalmann and Berit Kaschan

Friday 29 May
20:00
Estonian Writers' Union
Event language:
Estonian
Event translation:
English
Entry:
Free
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Aliis Aalmann (b. 1995) is an Estonian poet and prose writer who, despite her relatively short literary career, has already received several of Estonia’s most important literary awards: the Betti Alver Literary Prize for her debut collection Blood-Green (Verihaljas, 2021), the Gustav Suits Poetry Prize for her second collection The Power of Force (Väe võim, 2023), and the Friedebert Tuglas Short Story Prize for her story I Was Not Yet at School Then, published in Looming the same year. Last year was also successful for Aalmann, as her third collection Gateway City (Pääsulinn, Loomingu Raamatukogu) attracted considerable attention and praise. The book gives voice to concerns about the future of our natural and cultural heritage, expressed in a mature, incantatory, visionary, darkly expressive and socially sensitive style. In short, Aalmann is one of the strongest voices of the current renaissance in women’s writing.

© Dmitri Kotjuh

Berit Kaschan (b. 1985) is an Estonian poet and creativity trainer. Her debut collection, the self-aware yet expansive, ironic yet compassionate I Laugh in My Sleep (Ma naeran magades), appeared in 2016 and immediately brought her to prominence, as it was nominated for the Betti Alver Literary Prize and received the Tallinn University Literary Award. Last year saw the publication of her fourth collection April (Aprill, Kaschan AM), which was awarded the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s poetry prize. The work has attracted much positive attention for its focused, calmly sensitive tone, through which the author explores her own and her loved ones’ dreams and memories, as well as our shared sense of self, seeking affirmation, refining her voice and inviting dialogue. Kaschan is also known as the driving force behind the online platform Biblionaut, which introduces audiences to a wide range of literary forms and storytelling practices, including bibliotherapy, and is based on the belief that the ability to tell and to listen to stories is undoubtedly a healing force.

© Diana Tamane
Tallinn Literary Festival 27.—31.05.2026 Tallinn Literary Festival 27.—31.05.2026 Tallinn Literary Festival 27.—31.05.2026 Tallinn Literary Festival 27.—31.05.2026 Tallinn Literary Festival 27.—31.05.2026