Aleksandrs Čaks

Čaks (1901–1950, real name Aleksandrs Čadarainis) is a renowned Latvian author and poet. From 1911–14, Čaks studied at the Aleksandrs Gymnasium in Riga which was evacuated to Russia during WWI. He graduated from the gymnasium in 1918, and went on to study medicine at the Moscow University, then worked on an ambulance train, and later in a hospital. In 1922, he returned to Latvia and submitted his first 6 poems which the magazine refused to publish. In 1920's, he started working as a teacher, and more seriously turned to poetry. One of his poems was first published in 1925. Čaks studied poetry theory and Latvian literature autodidactically, read works of philosophers like Kant, Nietzsche and Hegel, et al. During the German occupation, Čaks was one of the forbidden authors whose works were not to be printed. As the Soviet rule was re-established, he worked for the Cīņa newspaper and composed commissioned poems, published in 3 volumes, translated fiction from Russian. However, Čaks failed to please the Soviet power and was accused of bourgeois and nationalist tendencies, and was criticized for anti-soviet undertones in his writing. This political persecution and slander of his character caused Čaks' premature death at the age of 48. Aleksandrs Čaks is considered a pioneer when it comes to urban themes in Latvian poetry and till this day is regarded as an irreplaceable figure in Latvian literature. He worked as technical editor in Association of Latvian Riflemen where he helped to publish collection of documents and memories. Inspired by riflemen memories he wrote a collection of epic poems Mūžības Skartie/Touched by Eternity for which he received A. Brigadere prize in 1939. Čaks Prize was established to commemorate the poet's contribution to Latvian literature, and a monument was placed for Aleksandrs Čaks in the Ziedoņdārzs park.
 

Poetry
Vēlais viesis/ poēma [The Late Visitor/ poem] (2005)
Lakstīgala dzied basu [Nightingale sings Bass] (sast. 1942-1944) (2001)
Debesu dāvana [Heaven-sent] (sast. 1942) (1980)
Spēlē, spēlmani [Play, Player] (1944) (1972)
Zem cēlās zvaigznes [Under the Noble Star] (1948)
Patrioti [Patriots](1948)
Iedomu spoguļi [Mirrors of Illusions] (1938)
Mūžības skartie (1-2) [Touched by Eternity 1-2] (1937 — 1939)
Umurkumurs (1932)
Mana paradīze [My Paradise] (1932)
Laimes krekls [The Lucky Shirt] (1931)
Poēma par ormani [Poem about the Cabby] (1930)
Apašs frakā [Apache in Tails] (1929)
Es un šis laiks [Me and this Time] (1928)
Sirds uz trotuāra [Hert on the Pavement] (1928)

Prose
Eņģelis aiz letes [Angel Behind the Counter] (1935)
Debesīs [Up in the Sky] (1938)
Aizslēgtas durvis [The Locked Door] (1938)

Books for Children
Nagla, Tomāts, Plūmīte [Nail, Tomato, Little Plum] (with Eriks Ādamsons) (1932)

Collected works
Raksti [Writings]. 1. — 5. vol. comp. Arnolds Būmanis. Rīga: Liesma 1971 — 1976.
Kopoti raksti [Collected writings]. 1. — 6. vol. comp. Valdis Rūmnieks. Rīga: Zinātne, 1991 — 2007.

Collections
Dzeja. Izlase [Collection of poems] (2019)
Uzburt mīlestību [The Enchantment of Love] (poetry) (2018)
Strēlnieku gaitas [Riflemen Stories] (prose) (2015)
Inara Cedrins, "Between Two Rains." Selected poems translated into English, e-book (2013)
Sirds uz trotuāra. Es un šis laiks. Pasaules krogs. Apašs frakā [Heart on the Pavement. Me and this Time. World Pub. Apache in Tails] (poetry) (2005)
Savādais gaidītājs [Strange Awaiter] (poetry and prose) (2004)
Tikai tevi [Only for You] (poetry) (2002)
Dvēsele kabatā [Soul in my Pocket] (poetry) (2000)
Spēle ar dzīvību [Playing with Life] (prose) (2000)
Dzejas izlase [Collection of poems] (1996)
Tikai tevi es mīlējis esmu [You alone I have loved] (1986)
Kļava lapa [Maple Leaf] (prose) (1969)
Izlase [Collection] (1—2) (1961)
Mana Rīga [My Riga] (1961)
Mana mīlestība [My Love]. prose, published in the USA (1956)

Carlos L. Planetarium of the new age // runografi.fi, December 2022 [FI]

Aleksandrs Čaks: "The heart on the sidewalk" - ex Libris.. // mummomatkalla.blogspot.com, May 2022 [FI]

Jukka Rislakki. Pioneers and the Red Army are present in the gems of contemporary Latvian literature // Helsingin Sanomat, January 2022 [FI]

About Aleksandrs Čaks Award and translation of his poems into English // LA.lv, 2019 [LV]

About Čaks' Strēlnieku gaitas, published by Jumava // Online magazine Satori, 2015 [LV]

About the new collection of poems by Aleksandrs Čaks // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2014 [EN]

About Aleksandrs Čaks // Čaks Muzeum website [EN]

Aleksands Čaks Muzeum // LiveRiga [EN]

Līga Horgana, review of The Enchantment of Love // Latvia Weekly blog, 2019 [EN]

Aleksandrs Čaks, Touched by Eternity // Jumava [EN]

1939, Anna Brigadere prize for Touched by Eternity