Alberts Bels

Alberts Bels (born Jānis Cīrulis, 1938-2024) is a Latvian author, writer of psychological novels and stories, prominent intellectual figure, honorary member of the Academy of Sciences. Bels has studied electrical engineering in Riga, from 1955 until 1956 he attended the Moscow Circus Art School, and after serving in military, graduated from high school in Riga and attended the High Courses of Scriptwriters and Film Directors in Moscow. He is a professional writer since 1963, and has worked as a consulting writer at the Latvian Writers' Union (1974–77). From 1990 until 1993, he was a member of Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia. Bels' first novel The Investigator, was praised for its innovative treatment of prose form, whereas his second novel, Bezmiegs/ Insomnia (written in 1967) was censored and, having faced serious attempts to hinder its publication, finally saw daylight only in 1987. Its uncensored version was published in 2003. Many of Bels' novels have been adapted for cinema, the best known of them being The Attack on Secret Police, and Gunshot in the Woods. The year 2010 saw the publication of D. Lūse and D. Ūdre biographical research on Alberts Bels. He has been awarded many important honours and prizes, the highest among them being the 3^rd class Order of the Three Stars (2000) and the insignia for Participation in the Barricades of 1991.

Prose
Vientulība masu sarīkojumos [Loneliness at Parties]. Riga: Jumava, 2005.
Uguns atspīdumi uz olu čaumalām [Reflection of Fire on Egg-shells]. Riga: Daugava, 2000.
Latviešu labirints [Latvian Labyrinth]. Riga: Daugava, 1998.
Melnā zīme [Black Sign]. Riga: Preses nams, 1996.
Saulē mērktie [The Sun-immersed]. Riga: Preses nams, 1995.
Sitiens ar teļādu [Claf Leather Blow]. Riga: Liesma, 1987.
Cilvēki laivās [People in Boats]. Riga: Liesma, 1987.
Bezmiegs [Insomnia]. Riga: Liesma, 1987 (written in 1967).
Slēptuve [Hiding Place]. Riga: Liesma, 1986.
Saknes [Roots]. Riga: Liesma, 1982.
Poligons [Polygon]. Riga: Liesma, 1977.
Saucēja balls [Caller's Voice]. Riga: Liesma, 1973.
Būris [The Cage] Riga: Liesma, 1972.
Izmeklētājs [The Investigator]. Riga: Liesma, 1967.

Short prose
Sainis. [Parcel] Riga: Liesma, 1980.
"Es pats" līdzenumā [My Own Self in Lowlands]. Riga: Liesma,1968.
Spēles ar nažiem [Playing with Knives] Riga: Liesma, 1966.

Series
Cilvēki pārvērtībās [People in Transformations] (novels). Riga: Liesma, 1989.
Cilvēki pilsētās [People in Cities] (novels). Riga: Liesma, 1988.
Cilvēki laivās [People in Boats] (novels). Riga: Liesma, 1987.
Izmeklētājs. Būris. [Investigator. The Cage.] (novels). Riga: Liesma, 1977.
Robeža [Border] (prose). Minneapolis: Tilts, 1969.

Juris Silenieks, Alberts Bels: In Search of Man // Journal of Baltic Studies Vol. 5, No. 1, 1974 [EN]

Alberts Bels, artist's profile // The Council of the Creative Unions of Latvia [LV]

Portable Enclosures. A.Bels The Cage, review // La escalera libros, October 2024 [ES]

A.Bels The Cage, review // Un libro al dia, April 2024 [ES]

A.Bels The Cage, review mention radio // Casenaser February 2024 [ES]

Lee Tisdale, review of Insomnia // The New Welsh Review, 2020 [EN]

LH Johnson, review of The Cage // Doyoueverstoptothink.com, 2020 [EN]

Glen James Brown, review of Insomnia // Wales Arts review, 2020 [EN]

Līga Horgana, review of The Cage // Latvia Weekly, 2020 [EN]

M.A. Orthofer, review of Insomnia // Complete Review, 2020 [EN]

Guntis Berelis, review of Loneliness at Parties // critic Guntis Berelis' literary blog, 2005 [LV]

Guntis Berelis, review of Latvian Labyrinth  // critic Guntis Berelis' literary blog, 1998 [LV]

2000, the Order of Three Stars

1991, commemorative insignia for Participation in the Barricades of 1991

1989, National Litarary Prize in Literature for People in Boats

1977, Andrejs Upītis Prize