Guntis Berelis (Latvia)

Guntis Berelis (born 1961) studied library science at university and briefly worked in a village library. He then became a literary critic, but in response to criticism of critics, he began creating fiction himself.

According to the website latvianliterature.lv, Berelis’s prose is characterised by postmodern scepticism towards unified thinking, an ironic play with cultural codes, and the deconstruction of traditional prose poetics.

Dubbed the enfant terrible of Latvian literature, Berelis has stated that a hallmark of a good story includes at least one corpse. His greatest literary influence is Stephen King. Although Berelis is not often included in the Latvian literary canon and not every school dares to invite him to speak, his works have received awards and nominations.

However, Berelis is much more versatile: besides his “horrific tales,” he has written the history of Latvian literature, published several collections of essays, and a children’s book titled Agnese and the Lord of Darkness. In his latest book, …to write… (2022), Berelis has gathered essays analysing various aspects of being a writer through his own experience and the works of world and Latvian classics, such as how to write the first sentence of a book, endure criticism, or whether alcohol supports or hinders writing, etc. Berelis has served as a prose consultant for the Latvian Writers’ Union.

The first of his works translated into Estonian were articles published in the magazine Keel ja Kirjandus and titled (as translated from Estonian): A Guide to Crossroads of Literature, or, a Brief Introduction to Latvian Prose of the 1990s (1999, translated by Ita Saks) and A Small Guide to Latvian Prose Territory (2013, translated by Merle Madisson).

Two books by Guntis Berelis have been published in Estonian: a collection of stories spiced with black humour titled Mr. Heidegger Likes Cats and Other Stories (Loomingu Raamatukogu 2022) and a historical novel Words Were of No Use (Mina Ise 2023), which reflects on the filming of the first silent film in Latvia in Ventspils in 1913 and the marauding activities during the revolution and war. Both books were translated into Estonian by Contra.

Berelis will participate in two Prima Vista warm-up events:

• May 8 at the Prima Vista Partner City Day in Viljandi
• May 7 at the Latvian Book Club in Biblioteek in Tartu