Liāna Langa

Liāna Langa (Liāna Bokša, born 1960) is one of the most highly acclaimed Latvian poets. Her poetry can be described as both intellectual and touching, discussing simple, yet meaningful, moments of human experience, drawing on the deepest layers of thought and language. Liāna Langa also translates poetry from English and Russian, and is the author of the libretto for the Arturs Maskats' opera Valentīna, that focuses on the holocaust events in Latvia. She is the creator and scriptwriter of the documentary film "A Streetcar Named Worker", 2004 and "Homo Ludens" (2015), author of songs of Raimonds Pauls' musical "Leo. Last bohemia", 2010 and the author of songs for the CD Songs for An Unwritten Play by Hardijs Lediņš/ NSRD and his Workshop for the Restoration of Unfelt Sensations (2003). Together with the poet Knuts Skujenieks and Edvīns Raups, she is one of the founders of the national writers' fund (Nacionālās Rakstniecības atbalsta fonds). She is actively involved in improving national culture policies, and as a spokesperson on civic issues and a publicist. Liāna Langa's poetry has been translated into English, German, French, Swedish, Turkish, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Russian and other languages.  

Poetry
Velēnu kleita [The Turf Dress]. Riga: Neputns, 2018.
Skatiens [Glances] – audiobook with folk-jazz music. Riga: Apostrofs, 2012.
Vilkogas [Deadly Nightshade]. Riga: Neputns, 2010.
Es pēkšņi atmodos no dziļa miega [I Suddenly Woke Up From a Deep Slumber]. Riga: Apostrofs, 2010.
Antenu burtnīca [Notebook of Antennae]. Riga: Neputns, 2006.
Iepūt taurītē, Skorpion! [Blow the Trumpet, Scorpion!]. Riga: Jaunā Daugava, 2001.
Te debesis, te ciparnīca [Now the Heaven, Now the Dial]. Riga: Daugava, 1997.

Travel essays
Es varēju nesteigties [I Ought Not Have Hurried]. Riga: Lietusdārzs, 2006.

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

About the LALIGABA nomination of The Turf Dress // Laligaba.lv, 2021 [LV]

About The Turf Dress // Neputns, 2018 [EN]

Poems by Liāna Langa // Online magazine Punctum, 2015 [LV]

Poems by Liāna Langa // Art and literary journal Ohio Edit, 2015 [EN]

Poems by Liāna Langa // Lyrikline.org - contemporary international poetry as audio (read by the authors) and text (original versions & translations) [LV]

About Notebook of Antennae // Neputns, 2006 [EN]

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]

Kristīne Ilziņa, Fēniksa dziesma mīlestības pelnos, review of The Turf Dress // Jaunā Gaita, Nr. 294, 2018 [LV]

Arvis Viguls, Nemiera dziesma, review of Deadly Nightshade // Online magazine Satori, 2010 [LV]

2019, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for The Turf Dress

2010, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Deadly Nightshade

2010, the Diena Annual Award in Culture for Deadly Nightshade

2006, Poetry Days Award for Notebook of Antennae

2001, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Blow the Trumpet, Scorpion!

1998, Poetry Days Award for Now the Heaven, Now the Dial