Juhan Smuul - Tallinn, Estonia
N 59° 26.185 E 024° 44.700
35V E 372104 N 6590816
This memorial to John Smuul, a famed Estonian writer and poet, is located at the corner of Kuniga and Harju Streets in Old Town Tallinn, Estonia.
Waymark Code: WMFD6Z
Location: Estonia
Date Posted: 10/01/2012
Views: 10
This historical marker honors Juhan Smuul (18 February 1922 — 13 April 1971), who is a famed Estonian writer, journalist, poet, and playright. The marker is a relief sculpture depicting a profile image of his face, and reads:
EESTI
NSV
RAHVAKIRJANIK
JUHAN SMUUL
8.II 1922 - 13. IV 1971
EESTI NSV [An image of a quill pen and paper]
KIRJANIKE LIIDU
JUHATUSE
ESIMEES
1953 -
1971
In English:
ESTONIAN
SSR
PEOPLE'S LITERATURE
JUHAN SMUUL
8.II 1922 - 13 IV 1971
ESTONIAN SSR
WRITERS UNION
BOARD
CHAIRMAN
1953-
1971
"Juhan Smuul was born in Koguva village on the island Muhu. He wrote several novels, often based on life in his native island. He also authored several travelogues. His most famous is The Frozen Book (Jäine raamat), about a Soviet expedition to Antarctica. Smuul also wrote four screenplays. They are:
Kirjad Sõgedate külast (1966)
Keskpäevane praam (1967)
Metskapten (1971)
Siin me oleme! (1979) (TV)"
(
visit link)
During World War II, he became a journalist for the Soviet newspaper "People's Voice". There he became more acquainted with contemporary Estonian literature and writers. After the war, he worked for a short time as deputy editor of the Hammer and Sickle and as the editor of the magazine, Pioneer Tallinn. After 1947, he bacame a freelance writer. During this time in Soviet Estonia, when Socialist Realism was compulsory, his Stalinist poetry was described as, professionally crafted eloquence. He was Vice Chairman of Writers' Union from 1951-1953, and Chairman from 1953 until his death in 1971.
During his life, he received numerous awards and recognitions, including:
the Soviet Estonia Prize in 1949 and 1950,
the Stalin Prize in 1952,
the Lenin Prize in 1961,
honored Soviet writer in 1955,
People's Writer of the Estonian SSR in 1965.
In addition, the Juhan Smuul Annual Prize of Literature is named after him.