Andrus Kivirähk

A number of his works have also been translated into multiple languages. Kivirähk has received awards in children's literature in Estonia and internationally. He often mixes elements of dark humor, Estonian folklore, fantasy, and social commentary in his writing. His book The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu, 2007) has been one of the top-selling books in Estonia. He is known for his children's series Lotte, Oskar and the Things, and Sirli, Siim ja saladused (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets). His works Lotte and Rehepapp ehk November have been adapted for the screen.

Andrus Kivirähk studied at Tallinn Secondary School No. 32 and University of Tartu. The recorded working language is Estonian. Distinctions recorded are Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for Best Foreign Novel, Oskar Luts Humor Award, Friedebert Tuglas short story award and Literary award of Viru county.

• Name — Andrus Kivirähk • Born — 17 August 1970 • Birthplace — Tallinn, then part of Estonian SSR, Soviet Union • Occupation — * author • playwright • topical satirist • screenwriter • Period — 1990–present • Genre — * Satire • fantasy • children's literature • drama • Notable Works — * The Man Who Spoke Snakish • Old Barny or November • Lotte from Gadgetville • Ivan Orava mälestused • Awards — * Order of the White Star, V Class (2004) • Annual Children's Literature Award (2018) • Jānis Baltvilks Prize (2011, 2013) • Eduard Vilde Literary Award (2016) • Parents — Ants Kivirähk (father) Ingrid Kivirähk (mother) • Relatives — Juhan Kivirähk (brother) • Spouse — Ilona Martson (also known as Ilona Kivirähk) • Children — 3, including Kaarin Kivirähk

• Illustration — Andrus Kivirähk, in July 2009 in Käsmu, Estonia He was born in Tallinn on August 17, 1970. His mother, Ingrid Kivirähk (née Kasesalu, 1931–2024), was a puppeteer and actor at the Estonian Puppet Theatre (Nukuteater). His father, actor and theatre director Ants Kivirähk, died when he was fifteen. He grew up with an older brother, Juhan Kivirähk, a sociologist. He graduated from Tallinn 32nd Secondary School in 1988. He continued his education at the University of Tartu, where he studied journalism. As a schoolboy, he got paid five-rouble money orders for his short stories, which he picked up from the Press House on Pärnu Road. He graduated from university in 1993. While studying journalism at Tartu University, he continued to work with Pikker. During his fourth year at university, he joined the cultural department of the daily newspaper Eesti Päevaleht. It was here, from 1992 to 1993, that the character he is most well-known for, Ivan Orav, was written. Kivirähk developed stories about Orav by drawing on chapters from a contemporary history textbook and reimagining the events through Orav's distorted and humorous perspective. He has contributed weekly satirical columns to Eesti Päevaleht and many of his books first appeared in the newspaper before becoming books.

• Illustration — Andrus Kivirähk at the annual Literary Street festival 2021 in Tallinn, Estonia His early humor writing used clichés, exaggerations, intentionally integrated strange elements, and wordplay to draw attention to and to poke fun at societal and political problems. These techniques later influenced his satirical writing and journalism. Kivirähk's writing style was heavily inspired by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald. His writing contains folk-oriented humour found similar to that in the works of Oskar Luts. The focus on national issues he integrates into his writing is also similar to the writing of Anton Hansen Tammsaare. He also shares elements of dark humour and social allegory similar to the satire and magical realism of Mikhail Bulgakov. The novel inspired a 2001 stage play, a 2013 opera, and the 2017 film adaptation November, directed by Rainer Sarnet. His 2007 fantasy novel The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu) explores the decline of ancient Estonian culture. Kivirähk's work has created space for modern Estonian fiction based on traditional stories and folklore. Kivirähk's reclamation of satire in the genre of folklore has been credited by scholars, such as Piret Noorhani, as representing a form of postmodernist national literature that uses tactics from comedy, like irony and parody, to both critique national identity and revive it. By subverting traditional categories and beliefs, his writing brings folklore out of the historical record and allows it to be reinterpreted. His work often contains elements of examining the past and memory. Many of his characters gain empathy for the past throughout their interactions. Kivirähk is also a children's author, with over a dozen published children's books.His 1999 book Sirli, Siim ja saladused explores loneliness and dream worlds. The Lotte series began with Lotte reis lõunamaale (2002) and continued with Leiutajateküla Lotte (2006). He also wrote Sibulad ja šokolaad [Onions and Chocolate] in 2002. Kivirähk's work has gained international recognition, with his writings translated into over 20 languages. • Language — Year — Title (English) — Title (Estonian) — Translated title — Translator — Publisher • Dutch — 2015 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — De man die de taal van slangen sprak — Prometheus • English — 2015 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Christopher Moseley — Black Cat • Finnish — 2018 — Carnival and Potato Salad — Karneval ja kartulisalat — Kun Musti muni mummon — WSOY • 2016 — Poo and Spring — Kaka ja kevad — Koiranne alkaa kohta kukkia — Otava • 2008 — Lotte from Gadgetville — Leiutajateküla Lotte — Keksijäkylän Lotta — Otava • 2000 — Old Barny or November — Rehepapp ehk November — Riihiukko — Kaisu Lahikainen — Otava • French — 2013 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — L'Homme qui savait la langue des serpents — Jean-Pierre Minaudier — Éditions Le Tripode • 2017 — The Butterfly — Liblikas — Le Papillon — Éditions Le Tripode • 2014 — Old Barny or November — Rehepapp ehk November — Les Groseilles de novembre — Éditions Le Tripode • German — 2015 — A Frog Kiss — Konna musi — Frösche küssen — Willegoos • 2015 — Poo and Spring — Kaka ja kevad — Der Schiet und das Frühjahr — Willegoos • 2017 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — Der Mann, der mit Schlangen sprach — Klett-Cotta • 2015 — Poo and Spring — Kaka ja kevad — De Schiet un dat Fröhjohr (Low German) — Plaggenhauer • Hungarian — 2005 — Blue Wagon — Helesinine vagun — Kék vagon — Kráter Műhely Egyesület • 2008 — Sirli, Siim and the Secrets — Sirli, Siim ja saladused — Sári, Samu és a titkok — Cerkabella • 2011 — Breviary — Breviárium — Breviárium — Észt Intézet / Pluralica • 2015 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — Az ember, aki beszélte a kígyók nyelvét — Typotex • 2018 — Old Barny or November — Rehepapp ehk November — Ördöngős idők — Gondolat Kiadói Kör • 2021 — Blue Horned Animal — Sinine sarvedega loom — Szépséges kék állat — Gondolat Kiadói Kör • Italian — 2019 — Lotte's Journey South — Lotte reis lõunamaale — Lotte. L'avventuroso viaggio al sud — De Bastiani • 2022 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — L'uomo che sapeva la lingua dei serpenti — La nave di Teseo • Latvian — 2019 — Lotte from Gadgetville — Leiutajateküla Lotte — Lote no Izgudrotāju ciema — Zvaigzne ABC • 2018 — Oskar and the Things — Oskar ja asjad — Oskars un lietas — Liels un mazs • 2016 — Carnival and Potato Salad — Karneval ja kartulisalat — Karnevāls un kartupeļu salāti — Liels un mazs • 2013 — Lotte's Journey South — Lotte reis lõunamaale — Lotes ceļojums uz dienvidiem — Zvaigzne ABC • 2012 — Poo and Spring — Kaka ja kevad — Kaka un pavasaris — Liels un mazs • 2009 — Sirli, Siim and the Secrets — Sirli, Siim ja saladused — Sirli, Sīms un noslēpumi — Liels un mazs • 2022 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — Vīrs, kas zināja čūskuvārdus — Latvijas Mediji • 2012 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — Vīrs, kas zināja čūskuvārdus — Lauku Avīze • Lithuanian — 2010 — Sirli, Siim and the Secrets — Sirli, Siim ja saladused — Sirlė, Simas ir slėpiniai — Kronta • 2020 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — Žmogus, mokėjęs gyvačių kalbą — Agnė Bernotaitė-Jakubčionienė — Aukso žuvys • 2023 — Old Barny or November — Rehepapp ehk November — Jaujininkas — Milda Kurpniece — Aukso žuvys • Polish — 2018 — Oskar and the Things — Oskar ja asjad — Oskar i rzeczy — Widnokrąg • 2020 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — Człowiek, który znał mowę węży — Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki — Marpress • 2021 — Old Barny or November — Rehepapp ehk November — Listopadowe porzeczki — Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki — Wydawnictwo Literackie • Russian — 2014 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — Последний, кто знал змеиную молвь (Posledniy, kto znal zmeinuyu molv) — Октопус • 2019 — Oskar and the Things — Oskar ja asjad — Оскар и вещи (Oskar i veshchi) — КПД • 2017 — Lotte's Journey South — Lotte reis lõunamaale — Путешествие Лотты в тёплые края (Puteshestviye Lotty v tyoplyye kraya) — Eesti Joonisfilm • 2016 — Carnival and Potato Salad — Karneval ja kartulisalat — Карнавал и картофельный салат (Karnaval i kartofel'nyy salat) — Varrak • 2014 — A Frog Kiss — Konna musi — Поцелуй лягушку! (Potseluy lyagushku!) — Varrak • 2010 — Poo and Spring — Kaka ja kevad — Весна и какашка (Vesna i kakashka) — Varrak • 2009 — Limpa and the Pirates — Limpa ja mereröövlid — Лимпа и пираты (Limpa i piraty) — Varrak • 2009 — Lotte from Gadgetville — Leiutajateküla Lotte — Лотте из Деревни Изобретателей (Lotte iz Derevni Izobretateley) — Eesti Päevaleht • 2008 — Giraffe — Kaelkirjak — Жираф (Zhiraf) — КПД • 2008 — Sirli, Siim and the Secrets — Sirli, Siim ja saladused — Сирли, Сийм и секреты (Sirli, Siym i sekrety) — КПД • Slovenian — 2015 — Sirli, Siim and the Secrets — Sirli, Siim ja saladused — Sara, Simon in skrivnosti — KUD Sodobnost International • Spanish — 2017 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — El hombre que hablaba serpiente — Impedimenta • Japanese — 2021 — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu — 蛇の言葉を話した男 (Hebi no kotoba o hanashita otoko) — Ryoko Sekiguchi — Kawade Shobo Shinsha He has been a member of the Estonian Writers' Union (in Estonian: Eesti Kirjanike Liit) since 1996. • Illustration — Kivirähk in 2024

Since 1995, Kivirähk has co-hosted the satirical weekly radio show, Rahva Oma Kaitse (The People's Own Defense), on the Raadio 2 channel of Estonian public broadcaster ERR alongside Mart Juur. The weekly live broadcast provides commentary on domestic and international politics. The show celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025. The weekly program combines journalism with comedic takes on current events. The show broadcasts live every Tuesday at 19:00 with replays on Sundays at 12:00.

Kivirähk has written several plays and screenplays. He often writes plays with absurd humor. As with his other work, it often engages with Estonian history. He debuted with Vanamehed seitsmendalt in 1992. In 2000, he wrote and directed Papagoide päevad at the Estonian Drama Theatre. He adapted his novel Rehepapp for the stage in 2001. Other works include Adolf Rühka lühikene elu (2005) and Voldemar (2007), directed by Merle Karusoo.He wrote and directed Köster at the Tallinn City Theatre in 2016. Recent plays include Kaarnakivi perenaine (2017) and Isamaa pääsukesed (2018). Kivirähk co-wrote the screenplay for the animated feature Lotte from Gadgetville (2006) with directors Heiki Ernits and Janno Põldma. He also wrote scripts for Lotte ja kuukivi saladus (2011) and Lotte ja kadunud lohed (2019). In 2023, he wrote and appeared in the hybrid film Kaka, kevad ja teised. In television, he wrote the comedy mini-series Vabariigi valvur (1994–1995).

Kivirähk is married to journalist and translator Ilona Martson (also known as Ilona Kivirähk). She is the editor-in-chief of the children's magazine Täheke. They have three daughters: Kaarin, Liisa, and Teele. Their first grandchild was born in March 2024. Their eldest daughter is art critic and curator, Kaarin Kivirähk.

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Andrus Kivirähk was born on 17 August 1970 in Tallinn. Kivirähk held the nationality of Soviet Union and Estonia. Kivirähk was educated at Tallinn Secondary School No. 32, which Kivirähk left in 1988 and University of Tartu, which Kivirähk left in 1993. Married to: Ilona Martson. Recorded mother: Ingrid Kivirähk. Recorded child: Kaarin Kivirähk. Recorded sibling: Juhan Kivirähk. Kivirähk worked as journalist, writer, screenwriter and children's writer, and the authority record catalogues a further 4 occupations under the same name, among them playwright, humorist, actor and columnist. Kivirähk worked in Estonian.

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Andrus Kivirähk has received recognition for his contributions to Estonian literature, drama, and journalism. He has earned both domestic and international awards throughout his career. His literary work was honored by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, and he has received the state's prestigious Order of the White Star, fifth class. Internationally, his novel The Man Who Spoke Snakish gained significant traction. In France, he won the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire in 2014. He also had multiple nominations for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in the field of children's literature. He has received recognition for his work from the general public with his recurring success in the Nukits Competition, in which Estonian children vote for their favorite authors. He was the winner of the reader-nominated award in the Nukits Competition in 2006, 2008, and 2010. • Year — Awards — Work — Category — Result — Ref. • 2020 — Nukits Competition — The Ghost and Facebook — Children's Choice — 1st place • 2018 — Annual Children's Literature Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia — Tilda and the Dust Angel — Children's Literature • 2018 — "Järje Hoidja" Award of the Tallinn Central Library — Tilda and the Dust Angel — Children's Literature • 2018 — Good Children's Book — Tilda and the Dust Angel — Children's Literature — Selected • 2016 — Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award — Career achievement — Children's Literature — Candidate • 2016 — Tartu Prize for Children's Literature — Oskar and the Things — Childhood Prize • 2016 — Eduard Vilde Literary Award — Oskar and the Things — Literature • 2016 — Nukits Competition — Carnival and Potato Salad — Children's Choice • 2015 — Good Children's Book — Oskar and the Things — Children's Literature — Selected • 2015 — The White Ravens — Big Toell — Children's Literature — Selected • 2014 — Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (France) — The Man Who Spoke Snakish — Best Foreign Novel • 2013 — Jānis Baltvilks Prize (Latvia) — Poo and Spring — Children's Literature • 2013 — Good Children's Book — A Frog Kiss — Children's Literature — Selected • 2012 — Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award — Career achievement — Children's Literature — Candidate • 2011 — Jānis Baltvilks Prize (Latvia) — Lotte from Gadgetville — Children's Literature • 2010 — Nukits Competition — Poo and Spring — Children's Choice — 1st place • 2010 — Children and Young Adult Jury (Latvia) — Sirli, Siim and the Secrets — Children's Literature • 2008 — IBBY Honour List — Lotte from Gadgetville — Children's Literature — Selected • 2008 — Nukits Competition — Lotte from Gadgetville — Children's Choice — 1st place • 2007 — Republic of Estonia State Culture Award — Lotte from Gadgetville & plays — Culture • 2006 — Nukits Competition — Limpa and the Pirates — Children's Choice — 1st place • 2005 — Raisin of the Year Award — Bed-time stories for Estonian fathers — Children's Literature • 2004 — The Order of the White Star (V class) — Service to Culture — State Decoration — Honored • 2004 — Nukits Competition — Lotte's Journey South — Children's Choice • 2004 — "Järje Hoidja" Award of the Tallinn Central Library — Limpa and the Pirates — Children's Literature • 2000 — Annual Cultural Endowment of Estonia Award — Lotte (for the animated feature film Lotte, together with Heiki Ernits, Janno Põldma, Regina Lukk-Toompere and Olav Ehala) — Audio-visual Arts

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