Volume 3 of Māris Čaklais’ Collected Writings Published

The Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (ILFA) has released the third volume of Māris Čaklais’ (1940–2003) Collected Writings, covering the years 1979 to 1984. The volume was compiled by literary scholars Dzidra Vārdaune and Jānis Oga.

This period saw the publication of several of Čaklais’ key works:

• the poetry collections “Pulksteņu ezers” (1979), “Kurzemes klade” (1982), “Cilvēksauciena attālumā” (1984),

• the children’s poetry book “Ķocis” (1984),

• and the collection of memoirs, essays, and reflections “Nozagtā gliemežnīca” (1980).

Literary scholar Dzidra Vārdaune notes:

“In Māris Čaklais’ portrait essays, one senses a spiritual unity among writers — he always places his subject in a broader context, grounded in the idea that literature’s mission connects artists of the word across time and borders. His literary portraits are vivid and distinctive — essays on Elza Stērste, Auseklis, Rainis, Anatols Imermanis, Olga Lisovska, Jānis Peters, Imants Ziedonis, Ojārs Vācietis, Imants Auziņš, among many others.”

The volume also includes Čaklais’ periodical publications and correspondence with Lalita Muižniece, Aleksandrs Pelēcis, and Velta Toma.

This publication fulfills the vision of Dzidra Vārdaune (1928–2023), who devoted the final years of her life to bringing the Collected Writings to completion.

Volume details:

• Compiled by: Dzidra Vārdaune, Jānis Oga

• Editor: Signe Raudive

• Design: Zigmunds Lapsa

• Publisher: Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art, University of Latvia

• Printing: Jelgava Printing House

• Supported by: The Latvian Culture Capital Foundation

• Price: €15.00

The book is available for purchase at ILFA (Mūkusalas iela 3, Riga), by emailing apgads@lulfmi.lv, and in major bookstores across Latvia.