Inga Ābele

Inga Ābele (née Ingrīda Ābele, 1972) is a prose writer, poet and playwright. Inga Ābele is the author of five novels, three collections of short stories and two poetry collections. She is one of the most important Latvian writers of her generation due to her unique style, which embraces the richness of language and human psychology, as well as variety of contexts – different historical times and current issues. Her prose builds powerful imagery and atmosphere. Her characters are created through deep psychological research into their souls. Inga Ābele can precisely make them resonate with the setting, be it a typical Latvian household, Latvian rural scenery or a factual historical era in the past. Inga Ābele’s short story Ants and Bumblebees was included in the prose anthology Best European Fiction 2010 published by Dalkey Archive Press, the USA. Inga Ābele’s novel High Tide was published in Swedish by Ariel in 2009, in English by Open Letter (USA) in 2013, and in German by Kommode Verlag in 2020. Her novel Wicker Monk was published in Lithuania in 2016 (Eglė) and in Sweden (Ariel Förlag) in 2018. In 2020, her novel The Year the River Froze Twice was published in the United Kingdom by Norvik Press.

Her play Dark Deer was simultaneously staged in 2001 by two Latvian theatres – the New Riga Theatre and Valmiera Drama Theatre, then at the Stuttgart State Theatre in 2002, the Bonner Biennale, and in Greece in 2008. In 2006 this play was turned into a film. The play Iron Weed/ Dzelzszāle was staged in Latvia, Denmark, and Finland. The play Jasmine was staged in Liepāja Theater (2023) and The Latvian National Theatre (2012 and 2025). The play School was staged at the National Theatre of Latvia in 2008. And the play Island in 2009 at the New Riga Theatre, the play Aspazija. Personally. at the New Riga Theatre in 2015. Inga Ābele is also the author of the libretto for the musical Leo. Last Bohemia (2010) staged at the National Theatre of Latvia. Inga Ābele is a member of Latvian Writers Union.

Prose

Mīlamā [Beloved]. Rīga: Dienas Grāmata, 2026
Lidijas Ziediņi [Lidija’s Blossoms]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2023.
Balta kleita [White Dress]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2020.
Duna [Thunder]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2017.
Klūgu mūks [Wicker Monk]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2014.
Audiogrāmata Akas māja [The Well House]. Audio-book. Riga: Apostrofs, 2012.
Kamenes un skudras [Ants and Bumblebees]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2010.
Paisums [High Tide]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2008.
Sniega laika piezīmes [Observations in the Time of Snow]. Riga: Atēna, 2004.
Uguns nemodina [Fire Will Not Wake You]. Riga: Atēna, 2001.
Akas māja [The Well House]. Riga: Atēna, 1999.

Poetry
Atgāzenes stacijas zirgi [The Horses of Atgazene Station]. Riga: Atēna, 2006.
Nakts pragmatiķe [Night Pragmatist]. Riga: Atēna, 2000.

Diaries and travel notes
Austrumos no saules un ziemeļos no zemes [To the East of the Sun, to the North of the Earth]. Riga: Atēna, 2006.

Plays published
Lugas [Plays]. Riga: Atēna, 2003.

Plays staged
Aspazija. Personīgi [Aspazija. Personally] staged at the New Riga Theatre (2015).
Sala [Island] staged at the New Riga Theatre (2009).
Skola [School] staged at the National Theatre of Latvia (2008).
Jasmīns [Jasmine] staged in Latvia by United Intimacy (2003), and by radio theatre (2002); and in Lucerne.
Dzelzszāle [Iron Weed] staged at the National Theatre of Latvia (2003); staged in Denmark, and Finland.
Tumšie brieži [Dark Deer] staged at the New Riga Theatre (2001) and Valmiera Drama Theatre (2001); at the Stuttgart State Theatre (2002), the Bonner Biennale; in Greece (2008).

Latvian writers novels and books from Latvia // Alles over boek en enschrijvers, October 2024 [NL]

Virginija Majoroviene. I'm not counting my books yet, interview in print // Moteris, December 2023 [LT]

One of the most famous writers of Latvia, Inga Abelė, presented the novel "Potvynis" in Vilnius: she also sought inspiration in the performances of Lithuanian theater stars // Delfi.lt October, 2023 [LT]

Union of Lithuanian Writers. Inga Ābele The Flood  („Potvynis“) // Lietuvas Rytas, October 2023 [LT]

Writer Inga Abelė presented her novel "Potvynis" in Vilnius // Rasytojai, October 2023 [LT]

About White Dress // Online magazine Satori, 2020 [LV]

Interview with Inga Ābele // Online magazine Punctum, 2018 [LV]

Interview with Inga Ābele // Diena.lv, 2017 [LV]

Conversation with Inga Ābele // La.lv, 2015 [LV]

Interview with Inga Ābele // Diena.lv, 2014 [LV]

Nora Koldehoff. Inga Ābele: High Tide, review // torial.com, May 2022 [GER]

Barbara Raudszus.Inga Ābele: High Tide, review // egotrip.de, April 2022 [GER]

Bārbala Simsone, Sarkanbalta pasaule, review of White Dress // Diena.lv, 2020 [LV]

Anders Ljunggren, review of Wicker Monk // Anders Ljunggren blog, 2020 [SV]

Anda Baklāne, Neganti izšķērdīgs stils, review of Thunder // Online magazine Satori, 2017 [LV]

Bārbala Simsone,  Zirga gudrās acis/ The Wise Eyes of a Horse, review of Thunder // Diena.lv, 2017 [LV]

Andra Neiburga, Klūgu mūks, review of Wicker Monk // Online magazine Satori, 2014 [LV]

2021, Copyright Eternity award for play "Island"

2021, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for White Dress

2018, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Thunder

2017, Kilogram of Culture award for Thunder

2016, Latvia’s annual theatre award Spēlmaņu nakts/ Players’ Night for the play Aspazija. Personally

2015, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Wicker Monk

2014, Dzintars Sodums Award for Wicker Monk

2014, The Diena Annual Award in Culture for Wicker Monk

2009, Prose Readings Award for the short story Woolf Mara and the Pigeon

2008, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for High Tide

2008, the Baltic Assembly Prize for Literature for High Tide

2008, Prose Readings Award for the short story Ants and Bumblebees

2008, The Diena Annual Award in Culture for the staged play School, directed by Viesturs Kairišs at the National Theatre of Latvia

2004, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Notes During the Time of Snow

2003, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Plays