Nora Ikstena
Nora Ikstena | |
|---|---|
 Ikstena in 2008 | |
| Born | Nora Rubene 15 October 1969[1] Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | 4 January 2026 (aged 56) |
| Education | University of Latvia (1987–1992), Columbia University (1994–1995) |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Years active | 1993–2026 |
| Notable work | Soviet Milk (2015) |
| Spouse(s) | Jānis Ikstens Harijs Beķers |
| Awards | Annual Latvian Literature Award (2001, 2006), Baltic Assembly Prize for Literature (2006), Order of the Three Stars (2008) |
Nora Ikstena (née Rubene; 15 October 1969 – 4 January 2026) was a Latvian writer and cultural manager. She was born in Riga and studied Latvian philology at the University of Latvia. After a subsequent period of residence in New York City for further studies, she returned home and worked to establish the Latvian Literature Centre.
Early life
Nora Ikstena was born on 15 October 1969, in Riga. Her mother was a doctor and her father an aviation engineer. She studied in several secondary schools in Riga and also Ikšķile. In 1987 she started Latvian philology studies at the University of Latvia. After graduating in 1992, she moved to the USA and in 1994 enrolled in Columbia University to study English language and literature.[2]
After graduation she worked as an editor in several Latvian newspapers. While living in the USA, she became editor of Columbia University's "The Review of Contemporary Fiction" magazine. In 1998 she prepared a whole issue of the magazine about Latvian prose.[3]
In the late 90s she was one of the founding members of the Latvian Literature centre and became its first chairman. Since 1998, she was one of the organizers of annual prose readings in Latvia.
Career
Her debut novel Celebration of Life appeared in 1998, and she wrote more than twenty books thereafter, several novels, short story collections, biographies and essays.
Her 2015 novel Soviet Milk (Latvian: Mātes piens) was translated into English and published in 2018 by Peirene Press in London.[4] The book tells the story of three generations of women growing up in Soviet-occupied Latvia, and how they cope with the lack of freedom.[5] The launch took place on 7 March in the English-language bookstore Robert's Books in Riga.[6] She also represented Latvia at the London Book Fair in 2018 as a featured author[7] and was officially invited to be a participant of the Library of Congress National Book Festival of Washington D.C. in 2016.[8] The book was shortlisted for the 2019 EBRD Literature Prize.[9] Soviet Milk has been licensed for 15 foreign languages, among them translations in Italian and German.[10] In September 2020, Ināra Kolmane began shooting a film adaptation of Soviet Milk set to release in autumn of 2022.[11]
Ikstena was awarded the Baltic Assembly Prize for Literature in 2006,[12] and in 2008 she was honoured with the Order of the Three Stars (officer) of the Republic of Latvia.[13]
Later, in 2018, she was honoured with another national Excellence in Culture Award for being the internationally best-known Latvian writer of the 21st century.[14]
Death
Ikstena died after a serious illness on 4 January 2026, at the age of 56.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Latvian writer Nora Ikstena dies aged 56". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ https://www.literatura.lv/en/persons/nora-ikstena
- ^ https://www.literatura.lv/en/persons/nora-ikstena
- ^ Mustillo, Michael (28 March 2018). "Latvian writer Nora Ikstena's critically acclaimed novel Soviet Milk opens up new paths". The Baltic Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- ^ Horgana, Līga (25 March 2019). "Literature Review: Soviet Milk". Latvia Weekly. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "Two Latvian English-language book launches this week". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- ^ Collier, Mike (11 April 2018). "London Book Fair Voices: Nora Ikstena". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- ^ "Nora Ikstena & Margita Gailitis: 2016 National Book Festival". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ ""Soviet Milk" makes EBRD prize shortlist". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ Various sources : "Nora Ikstena's "Soviet Milk" published in the UK, Macedonia, Hungary and Italy". Latvian Literature. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2026.; "Translations of female voices of Latvian literature". Latvian Literature. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2026. ; "54 Books by Latvian Authors Published Abroad Last Year". Latvian Literature. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ Balčus, Zane (28 September 2020). "PRODUCTION: Shooting Begins on Acclaimed Latvian Book Adaptation Soviet Milk". Film New Europe Association. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "Prize winners, 1994 – 2023". Baltic Assembly. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Nora Ikstena (15.10.1969. Rīga) latviešu rakstniece". Nacionālā enciklopēdija (in Latvian). Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ "Izcilības balvu kultūrā iegūst Nora Ikstena, Rolands Kalniņš un Nacionālais mākslas muzejs". Public Broadcasting of Latvia (in Latvian). 28 November 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
External links
- "Crossing North 14: Soviet Milk" (15 April 2020). Crossing North. Department of Scandinavian Studies, University of Washington. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- "Interview with Nora Ikstena, Author of Soviet Milk (11 May 2018). Armchair Authors. Peirene Press. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- Nora Ikstena at IMDb
- Nora Ikstena discography at Discogs