Amanda Aizpuriete

Amanda Aizpuriete (1956 - 2023) is a Latvian poet and translator. She has studied philology and philosophy, and participated in the translation of poetry seminar at the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute in Moscow. Aizpuriete's works have been translated into more than 14 languages, including English, German, Swedish and Lithuanian. American contemporary composer Eric Funk has composed a mono-opera Anna Akhmatova, and a symphony for contralto and orchestra, This Eventide Seems Spilt, with Amanda Aizpuriete's poetry. She has received awards both in Latvia and recognized internationally with awards like the Horst Bienek Poetry Prize from the Bavaria Academy of Art (1999), the Poetry Days' Prize (2000), and the Annual Latvian Literature Award for best poetry translation (2003). She is a member of the Latvian Writers' Union since 1986. Aizpuriete is well known and highly regarded for her translations of works by Anna Akhmatova, Virginia Woolf, Franz Kafka, Georg Trakl, Joseph Brodsky, and other seminal writers.

Pirms izvākšanās [Before Moving Out]. Riga: Neputns, 2020. 

Turp [That Way]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2013.

Šonakt biju zaļš putns [I was a Green Bird Tonight]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2011.

ledusskapja šūpuļdziesma [Refrigerator Lullaby]. Riga: Mansards, 2011.

Vēstuļu vējš [The Dispatch Wind]. Riga: Atēna, 2004.

Viršu debesīs [Up in the Heather Sky]. Riga: Jumava, 2003.

Nakts peldētāja [The Night Swimmer]. A novel. Riga: Daugava, 2000.

Sārtu baložu bars [A Flock of Rosy Pigeons]. Postcards with poems, Riga, 1999.

Bābeles nomalē [At the Outskirts of Babel] Riga: Enigma, 1999.

Pēdējā vasara [The Last Summer]. Riga: Preses nams, 1995.

Nākamais autobuss [The Next Bus] [with translations of poems]. Riga: Liesma, 1990.

Kāpu iela [Dune Street]. Riga: Liesma, 1986.

Nāks dārzā māte [Mother Will Come Into the Garden ]. Riga: Liesma, 1980.

Lettisches Literaturfilmfestival Berlin: In Riga, um Riga und um Riga herum // Tagesspiegel, May 2023 [DE]

Amanda Aizpuriete poetry // Wortschau 41, April 2023 [DE]

About Before Moving Out // Online maganize Satori, 2020 [LV]

Author's profile // UniVerse Forum [EN]

Author's profile // Council of the Creative Unions of Latvia [LV]

A poem by Amanda Aizpuriete, read in Latvian by the author, translated into English by Ieva Lešinska // Poetry International, 2015 [EN, LV]

Inga Žolude, Sērās ir kaut kas nepārejošs, review of Before Moving Out // Diena.lv, 2020 [LV]

Kristiāna Kārkliņa, Brīva kā Verdzene, review of That Way // UbiSunt, University of Latvia, 2013 [LV]

Edvīns Raups, Amandas Aizpurietes piemērs, review of I was a Green Bird Tonight // Diena.lv, 2012 [LV]

2021, the Dzintars Sodums Prize for Before Moving Out

2021, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Before Moving Out

2013, Ojārs Vācietis Prize for That Way

2011, Ojārs Vācietis Special Prize for Refrigerator Lullaby

2004, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for the translation of Anna Akhmatova's works

2001, the Poetry Days Award for At the Outskirts of Babel

1999, Horst Bienek Prize from the Bavaria Academy of Art 

1999, Poetry Award