Debora Vaarandi

Debora Vaarandi studied at University of Tartu. The recorded working language is Estonian. The field of work recorded is poetry. Distinctions recorded are Honored Writer of the Estonian SSR, People's Writer of the Estonian SSR, Order of the White Star, 3rd Class and Juhan Liiv Poetry Award.

• Name — Debora Vaarandi • Birth Name — Debora Trull • Born — 1 October 1916 • Birthplace — Võru, Russian Empire • Died — 28 April 2007 • Place of death — Tallinn, Estonia • Occupation — Writer • Education — University of Tartu • Notable Works — Põleva laotuse all • Spouse — Aadu Hint, Juhan Smuul • Awards — Order of the White Rose of Finland • Illustration — Vaarandi's grave in Pärnamäe Cemetery

Debora Vaarandi was born in Võru on 1 October 1916 to Julianus and Tamara Trull (née Ella). She grew up on the island of Saaremaa. Vaarandi studied language and literature at the University of Tartu. In 1936, she married Aadu Hint; the couple later divorced. She joined the Communist Party of Estonia in 1940. When the Germans invaded Estonia, she escaped to Russia, returning to Estonia in 1944. Although not trained as a journalist, she worked as editor in chief of the communist newspaper Sirp ja Vasar. She was forced to resign from that post after contracting tuberculosis. In 1946, her first collection of poetry Põleva laotuse all ("Under a Blazing Sky") was published. Her work celebrates values such as the love of nature, the importance of family and the beauty of small things. Many of her poems have been set to music. In 1952, she married the writer Juhan Smuul. After 1977, she focused on translating works by Anna Akhmatova, Georg Trakl, and Edith Södergran into Estonian. She was awarded the Order of the White Rose of Finland for translating Finnish poetry into Estonian.

• Unistaja aknal ("The Dreamer at the Window") (1959) • Tuule valgel ("In the Light of the Wind") (1977)