Kārlis Skalbe

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Kārlis Skalbe (1879–1945) was a Latvian writer and poet. He is best known for his 72 fairy tales which are really written for adults. He has been called the 'King of Fairytales',[1] and his words has been inscribed on the Monument of Freedom in Riga.[2]

He worked as a teacher and journalist. After the 1905 revolution he moved to Switzerland, Finland and Norway. He returned to Latvia in 1909 and was later sent to jail for 18 months for revolutionary activities. He fought as a Latvian Rifleman in 1916.

He stayed in Latvia until 1944 when it became obvious that after the war the USSR would again occupy Latvia. He then moved to Sweden and died a few months later.[3]

In 1987 his former summer house was opened as a public museum dedicated to his life and works.[4]

[edit] References

  • Bear's Ears: An Anthology of Latvian Literature. p135
  1. ^ Rubulis, Aleksis (1970). Baltic Literature: A Survey of Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian Literatures. University of Notre Dame Press, p. 125. 
  2. ^ Monument of Freedom. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  3. ^ Eksteins, Modris (1999). Walking Since Daybreak: A Story of Eastern Europe, World War II, and the Heart of Our Century. Houghton Mifflin Books, p. 101. ISBN 061808231X. 
  4. ^ KARLIS SKALBE MEMORIAL MUSEUM "SAULRIETI". Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
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