Mehis Heinsaar (Estonia)

Mehis Heinsaar, born in 1973, is a celebrated Estonian writer and the patron of the 2023 Prima Vista literary festival. He first made a name for himself as a poet, affiliated with the renowned literary group Erakkond (The Group of Hermits), back in 1997. However, it was his collection of short stories, “Vanameeste näppaja” (Snatcher of Old Men), published in 2001, that truly brought him widespread recognition. Heinsaar’s remarkable talent has been acknowledged with numerous prestigious awards, and his works have been translated into over 10 languages.

Heinsaar’s storytelling style, often characterized as magical realism, is both captivating and poetic. Readers are often taken by surprise at how seamlessly supernatural elements or characters are woven into the natural world in his narratives. In 2021, a film titled “The Gardener of Tension Fields,” directed by Joosep Matjus and Katri Rannastu, drew inspiration from Heinsaar’s poetry collection of the same name, which was published in 2018. More recently, Heinsaar’s latest novel, “Lost Tribe,” has received widespread acclaim, earning him the main award in literature from the Estonian Cultural Endowment, the first Estonian Literary Museum Friend’s Award, and the A. H. Tammsaare Literary Award.

Saturday, May 5th 18.00 at Paide Music and Theater House

Monday, May 8th 21.00 at the Embassy premises on the corner of Rüütli Street and Town Hall Square

Tuesday, May 9th 18.00 at the hall of Tartu Literature House

Wednesday, May 10th 18.00 at the Conference Hall of the University of Tartu Library

Saturday, May 13th 12 at Tartu Literary House