In times of transition — current Latvian literature
Two award-winning novels, two extraordinary perspectives on Latvia in transition
Latvian authors Svens Kuzmins and Andris Kalnozols present their new novels—both winners of the Latvian National Literature Prize and now published in German for the first time by edition.fotoTAPETA
„Rigaer Freiheit“ by Svens Kuzmins (translated from Latvian by Lil Reif)
What if a house could tell stories? In his acclaimed novel Rigaer Freiheit, Kuzmins does just that: an old townhouse in Riga becomes the chronicler of the turn of the century, a time of social upheaval. Once glamorous, now dilapidated, it houses a community of tenants on the margins of society—people who live as if nothing has changed. But then the grandson of the former owner moves in, a young art student. With him comes a new generation of artists and writers searching for truth and beauty on the eve of a new era. An atmospheric novel about transience, renewal, and the question of what remains. Winner of the 2025 Latvian National Literature Prize.
„Kalender“ by Andris Kalnozols (translated from Latvian by Sven Otto)
Oskar is different. His thoughts follow a childishly naive logic, but his memory is extraordinary: he knows all name days by heart—hence his nickname “Calendar.” At the suggestion of the pastor, Oskar begins to keep a diary. The result is a warm-hearted portrait of an outsider whose unique worldview gives him direct access to children, the elderly, and other marginalized people. Over the course of a calendar year, the autistic-seeming Oskar becomes the center of a quirky circle of friends—an amusing, moving, and surprising story about the power of otherness. Winner of the 2021 Latvian National Literature Prize
Two novels that demonstrate how unusual perspectives reveal the essence of a society in transition.
Moderator: Andreas Rostek
An event organized by LATVIAN LITERATURE and edition.fotoTAPETA Berlin
Svens Kuzmins
Born in 1985 in Rēzekne, Latvian writer, artist, and actor. Writes prose, reviews, and journalistic articles, but also experiments with forms of visual art. One of the initiators and authors of the sketch theater project NERTEN. His first novel, Hohma / Hokhmah, was nominated for the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) in 2021. Kuzmins' works have been translated into English, Russian, Lithuanian, Estonian, and Spanish.
Andris Kalnozols
Born in 1983, Latvian playwright and writer. His plays have been staged at the Latvian National Theater, Dirty Deal Teatro, and Ģertrūdes ielas teātris. Kalnozols has been involved in creative writing since 1999 and has been published in various magazines. His debut novel, Kalendārs mani sauc, was published in Latvian at the end of 2020.
Andreas Rostek
Andreas Rostek, born in 1955, is a journalist, translator, and publisher of edition.fotoTAPETA. He studied political science in Berlin and Bologna. He was one of the co-founders of the daily newspaper taz and worked for many years as an editor, foreign correspondent, editorial director, and television editor. He lived for several years in Rome and Lugano, as well as in Berlin and Washington, D.C. He is married and lives in Berlin again.
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