Albert Kivikas

Biography

Albert Kivikas (January 18, [O.S. January 6,] 1898 in Groß-St. Johannis, Livonia, Russian Empire – May 19, 1978 in Lund) was an Estonian writer and journalist. He is best known as the author of the book Names in Marble (Estonian: "Nimed marmortahvlil"), the subject of which is the Estonian War of Independence. Albert Kivikas was born in Suure-Jaani, which at the time was part of the Russian Empire. His mother Anu Kivikas was a weaver. In his youth he published some of his works under the names A. Pedajas and Mart Karus. After the Estonian War of Independence, in which he participated as a volunteer, Kivikas became one of the few writers in Estonia to experiment with futurism. However, his best works are novels and short stories dealing with war and social problems in the rural environment. From 1941 to 1944 he served as a chairman of the Estonian Writers' Union. In spring 1944, Kivikas went into exile in Finland and from there in autumn 1944 on to Sweden where he lived till the end of his life.