Jānis Rokpelnis

Jānis Rokpelnis, born in 1945, is a Latvian poet, essayist, writer and scholar. From 1963 until 1969 he studied  psychology and philosophy at what was previously known as the Leningrad State University. He holds degrees in theology and philosophy, and is a qualified lecturer. He has worked as a professional writer, editor, a literary consultant at the Writers' Union, teacher of history of culture and fine arts, as well as held important positions in various organizations connected to literature, culture and cinema. Rokpelnis is a member of the Latvian Writers' Union and other literary societies, an honorary member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, and has received various significant scholarships, awards and prizes, including the prestigious Baltic Assembly Prize (in 2000) along with many important national awards. He is one of the first authors of his generation to introduce the trends of irony and co-existence of various linguistic strata in his work, blending them into his unique lyricism and writing style. Rokpelnis is revered by his peers as well as the younger generations of poets and aspiring creatives, therefore, besides theological texts, he has also edited countless poetry collections, well received by the public and recognized with awards. Rokpelnis is the author of 8 collections of poetry, a documentary novel, a fiction novel, collections of essays, a biographical work on the poet Knuts Skujenieks, a children's book, as well as a libretto, film scripts, articles, and various other texts. Rokpelnis' poetry has been translated into more than 20 languages, and included in many anthologies abroad. His books have been published in Russian, Lithuanian, Italian, French and English.

Poetry
Tīmeklītis [Tiny Web]. Riga: Neputns, 2019.
Post factum. Riga: Neputns, 2015.
Nosaukums [The Title]. Riga: Neputns, 2010.
Vārti [The Gate, a section in "Dzeja"]. Riga: Atēna, 2004.
Klātbūtne [Presence in “Lirika”]. Riga: Atēna, 1999.
Līme [Glue]. Riga: Liesma, 1991.
Vilciens no pilsētas R [Train from the City of R.]. Riga: Liesma, 1986.
Rīgas iedzimtais [Native of Riga]. Riga: Liesma, 1981.
Zvaigzne, putna ēna un citi [A Star, A Bird's Shadow and Others]. Riga: Liesma, 1975.

Collections of poetry
Dzeja [Poetry]. Riga: Atēna, 2004.
Lirika [Lyric]. Riga: Atēna, 1999.

Articles, prose, essays
Rigas iestaigāšana [Treading of Riga, essays]. Riga: Mansards, 2012.
Virtuālais Fausts [Virtual Faustus, novel]. Riga: Dienas grāmata, 2008.
Smagi urbjas tinte [When the ink pours heavily. A Book about Knuts Skujenieks] Riga: Pētergailis, 2006.
…jeb Dievs nav mazais bērns [... in other words, God Is Not a Little Child, essays]. Riga: Neputns, 2003.
Rigas iedzimtie [Natives of Riga, essays]. Riga: Nordik, 1997.

Translated works
Selected Poems [ translated into english by Margita Gailitis]. Riga: Neputns, 2014.
L'Aborigène de Riga [Native of Riga, translated into French by Alain Schorderet]. Montpellier: Grèges, 2013.
Lugano incontra Riga/Riga satiek Lugāno [ Riga meets Lugano, with Gilberto Isella, Italian]. Giampiero Casagrande editore, 2009.
Сфера Хевисайда [Heaviside Sphere, with Uldis Bērziņš, translated into Russian by Sergejs Moreino]. Riga: Karogs, 2008.
Lyrika [Lirika, translated into Lithuanian by Vladas Braziūnas]. Vilnius: Petro ofsetas, 2005.
Aбориген Pиги [Native of Riga, in Russian translation]. Riga: Liesma, 1991.

Conversation with Jānis Rokpelnis // Online magazine Punctum, 2020 [LV]

Interview with Jānis Rokpelnis // Diena.lv, 2019 [LV]

Poems by Jānis Rokpelnis translated // Lyrikline.org platform [EN, DE, FR, RU, ET, TR, SV, CS, BG]

Agnieszka Smarzewska. Lights in the fog. Review of the anthology of Latvian poetry "All the birds that are in me..." translated by Olga Wiewióra // Przeglad Baltycki October, 2020 [PL]

Sandra Ratniece, Divpadsmit dažādas ieelpas Jāņa Rokpeļņa krājumā, review of Tiny Web // LA.lv, 2019 [LV]

Elvīra Bloma, Rokepeļņa mūžīgais mats, review of Tiny Web // Online magazine Punctum, 2019 [LV]

Pauls Bankovskis, Rokpeļņa rokenrols, review of Post Factum // Online magazine Satori, 2015 [LV]

Ieva Kolmane, review of Treading of Riga // Diena.lv, 2012 [LV]

Guntis Berelis, Zirnekļa darbs, review of The Title // Guntis Berelis blog, 2010 [LV]

2020, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Tiny Web
2016, The Silver Ink-Pot Award, by the International Writers' and Translators' House            
2016, The Annual Latvian Literature Lifetime Achievement Award               
2015, Acknowledgement from the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia                    
2015, Acknowledgement from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia                        
2015, Ojārs Vācietis Prize                            
2014, Honorary Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences                            
2014, Latvia's National Writing Support Fund award                        
2013, Dzintars Sodums Prize for innovations in literature                            
2010, Acknowledgement at the Prose Readings 2010 festival
2010, Ojārs Vācietis Prize
2010, Magazine Latvju Teksti award during the Poetry Days festival
2005, Lifelong stipend awarded by the State Culture Capital Foundation                
2004, Writer's Union and Culture Capital Foundation Award for best book of poetry            
2001, Aleksandrs Čaks Prize                             
2000, the Baltic Assembly Prize                             
1981, Latvian Filmmakers Union Award “Mazais Kristaps” for best puppet film script        
1981, The Writers' Union Prize for best book of poetry             
1976, “Soviet Youth” magazine prize for best début book of poetry