Juris Kronbergs (1946 - 2020) was a Sweden-born Latvian poet and translator. He resided in Stockholm where he wrote poetry in Swedish and Latvian, as well as translated literature from and into Latvian and Swedish. Among some of the most notable and widely praised of his translations of the 20th and 21st century poetry, is the selected poems of the Nobel laureate Thomas Tranströmer (published by Mansards, 2011) and the magical, fascinating and intellectual novel by Ulf Eriksson, Creatures of Glass/Varelser av glas (Janis Roze, 2010). One of his most well-reviewed and popular books is the cycle of poems Wolf One-Eye/ Vilks vienacis, which has been translated in Estonian and Swedish, as well as in English by Mara Rozitis and published by Arc Publications in 2006. Its Latvian original was awarded the Latvian Writers' Union Prize of 1997, and was issued as a voice recording in Latvia and Sweden (with music by Kristaps Grasis). Since 1992, Kronbergs was a member of the Latvian Writers' Union. His articles and creative work was published in many Swedish newspapers, magazines, and have featured on radio programmes. He was the translator and compiler of the anthology of Latvian poetry in Norwegian (together with the Norwegian poet Odd Abrahamsen), and has translated some of the most significant works of Latvian literature into Danish, and other languages.
Poetry
Debesīs Dievs bīda mēbeles [In heaven, God is moving furniture]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2021.
Uz balkona / bet ja visu laiku... [On a balcony/ what if all the time...]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2016
Ik diena [Every Day]. Riga: Mansards, 2011.
Vilks Vienacis / 2. paplašinātais izdevums. [Woolf One-Eye / completed 2nd edition] Riga: Mansards, 2008.
Peti-šu. Riga: Neputns, 2005.
Rudens mani raksta [Autumn Writes Me]. Riga: Valters un Rapa, 2005.
Notikumu apvārsnis [Horizon of Events]. Riga: Jumava, 2002.
Varg Enögd/ Vilks Vienacis [Woolf One-Eye]. Riga: Minerva, 1996.
Laiks [Time]. collab. with Uldis Bērziņš. Riga: Zinātne, 1994.
Tagadnes [Presents]. Stokholma: Daugava, 1990.
De närvarande/ Klātesošie [The Present]. Stockholm: Norstedt&Söners Förlag — zviedru val., 1984.
Biszāles [Gunpowder]. Stokholma: Daugava, 1976.
Iesnas un citi dzejoļi [Flu and other Poems] 1971.
Pazemes dzeja/ dzejlapa [Underground Poetry/ sheet of poems], 1970.
Children's books
Laika bikses [Times Trousers - A Book of Time]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2019.
Mākoņu grāmata [The Book of Clouds]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2010.
Selected works
Dzejas izlase [Selected poems]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2019.
Par īstenību, četrām sāpēm un bezizejas istabu [On Truth, Four Aches and the Room of no Escape]. Riga: Artava, 1989.
Mana latviskā ikdiena [My Casual Latvian Life]. Rīga, 1994.
Trimdas anatomija [Exile's Anatomy] Selection of poems 1970-1991; poems not included in other collections. Riga: Mansards, 2009.
Books to fall for
The Book of Clouds
The Book of Clouds (Mākoņu grāmata)
A cloud watcher’s notes – poems for children up to and including middle school age. The habits, character, behaviour, and thoughts of clouds. While their thoughts, habits, character and behaviour are somewhat different, they are still very similar to those of human society. What you see in the sky depends on how you see yourself.
Contacts: pasts@lielsmazs.lv
The Book Of Clouds_by_J.Kronbergs.pdf
Title
:The Book of Clouds
Title*
:Mākoņu grāmata
Authors
:Illustrators
:Genre
:Childrens-book
Publisher
:Rīga, Liels un mazs
Pages
:64
Year
:2010
Foreign rights
:Sold to English (UK), Korean, Russian
Time's Trousers
Time's Trousers (Laika bikses)
In this poetry collection for school-age children, Juris Kronbergs presents a witty game of observation, research, and scientific classification, a technique which he already used to great effect in his first children’s poetry book "The Book of Clouds". In this work, he focuses his attention on time, portraying it as a living being, which has various habits and characteristics, just like a person.
Contact: pasts@lielsmazs.lv
TimesTrousers_by_J.Kronbergs.pdf
Title
:Time's Trousers
Title*
:Laika bikses
Authors
:Illustrators
:Genre
:Childrens-book
Publisher
:liels un mazs
Pages
:80
Year
:2019
Foreign rights
:All languages available
Žanete Vēvere. A Glimpse Into The Latvian Literature! // All about book publishing, February, 2023 [IN]
About In heaven, God is moving furniture // Online magazine Satori, 2021 [LV]
About Juris Kronbergs // Tranan.nu, 2020 [NO]
Audio reading of Juris Kronbergs' poem "Wolf One-Eye" // Trafika Europe Radio, 2020 [EN]
Selected poems // Online literary magazine Apofenie, 2019 [EN]
Juris Kronbergs: Anatomijas paraugi, poetry // Online magazine Satori, 2009 [LV]
Introduction to Kronbergs' cycle of poems Woolf One-Eye // Arc Publications, 2006 [EN]
Juris Kronbergs, author's profile // Arc Publications [EN]
Agnieszka Smarzewska. Seeing is knowing. Review of Juris Kronbergs' poetry collection "Wolf One-Eye" // Przeglad Baltycki, August 2021 [PL]
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]
Review of The Book of Clouds // The Royal Meterological Society, 2018 [EN]
Review of The Book of Clouds // Literature Works, 2018 [EN]
Guntis Berelis, review of the collection Peti-šu // Guntis Berelis literary blog, 2005 [LV]
Guntis Berelis review of the Horizon of Events // Guntis Berelis literary blog, 2002 [LV]
2011, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award Best Poetry for Every Day
2005, A.Čaks Prize
1998, the Order of Three Stars
1988, Ojārs Vācietis Prize
Wolf One-Eye
Wolf One-Eye (Vilks Vienacis)
Title
: Wolf One-EyeTitle*
: Vilks VienacisAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:English
Publisher
:Arc Publications, United Kingdom
Pages
:136
Year
:2006
Copyrights
:Juris Kronbergs
Synopsis
:Poetry collection in English of Latvian poet Juris Kronbergs.
Lupo Occhio - solo
Lupo Occhio - solo (Vilks vienacis)
Title
: Lupo Occhio - soloTitle*
: Vilks vienacisAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Italian
Publisher
:Gattomerlino / Superstripes, Italy
Pages
:118
Year
:2015
Copyrights
:Juris Kronbergs
Synopsis
:Poetry collection in Italian of Latvian poet Juris Kronbergs.
Documenti di viaggio
Documenti di viaggio (Izlase)
Title
: Documenti di viaggioTitle*
: IzlaseAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Italian
Publisher
:Gattomerlino/Superstripes, Italy
Pages
:124
Year
:2016
Copyrights
:Juris Kronbergs
Synopsis
:Poetry collection in Italian of Latvian poet Juris Kronbergs.
The Book of Clouds
The Book of Clouds (Mākoņu grāmata)
Title
: The Book of CloudsTitle*
: Mākoņu grāmataAuthors
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:English
Pages
:69
Year
:2018
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator, translators;
Synopsis
:Poetry book about clouds for children by Latvian poet Juris Kronbergs. When clouds have their flags fluttering, it means the clouds are gathering right in your neighbourhood.
구름책
구름책 (Mākoņu grāmata)
Title
: 구름책Title*
: Mākoņu grāmataAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Korean
Pages
:68
Year
:2018
Synopsis
:Poetry book about clouds for children by Latvian poet Juris Kronbergs. When clouds have their flags fluttering, it means the clouds are gathering right in your neighbourhood.
Nerkaner
Nerkaner (Tagadnes)
Title
: NerkanerTitle*
: TagadnesAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Armenian
Publisher
:Antares, Armenia
Pages
:78
Year
:2008
Synopsis
:Collection of Poems
Vilkas Vienakis
Vilkas Vienakis (Vilks Vienacis)
Title
: Vilkas VienakisTitle*
: Vilks VienacisAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Lithuanian
Publisher
:Kronta, Lithuania
Pages
:136
Year
:2008
Synopsis
:Collection of poems
Wilk Jedno Oko
Wilk Jedno Oko (Vilks Vienacis)
Title
: Wilk Jedno OkoTitle*
: Vilks VienacisAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Polish
Publisher
:Warsztaty Kultury w Lublinie, Poland
Pages
:174
Year
:2021
Synopsis
:Collection of poems
På balkongen
På balkongen (Uz balkona (bet ja visu laiku …)
Title
: På balkongenTitle*
: Uz balkona (bet ja visu laiku …Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Swedish
Publisher
:Bokförlaget Edda
Pages
:Year
:2022
Copyrights
:the author
Synopsis
:Poetry by Juris Kronbergs
Laika bikses
Laika bikses (Laika bikses)
Title
: Laika biksesTitle*
: Laika biksesAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Korean
Pages
:Year
:2023
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator
El libro de las nubes
El libro de las nubes (Mākoņu grāmata)
Title
: El libro de las nubesTitle*
: Mākoņu grāmataAuthors
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Spanish
Pages
:62
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator
Synopsis
:Poetry book about clouds for children by Latvian poet Juris Kronbergs. When clouds have their flags fluttering, it means the clouds are gathering right in your neighbourhood.
Descant 124. In Latvia, Observed / Abroad / In Memory
Descant 124. In Latvia, Observed / Abroad / In Memory (Latvijai veltīts literārā žurnāla Descant numurs)
Title
: Descant 124. In Latvia, Observed / Abroad / In MemoryTitle*
: Latvijai veltīts literārā žurnāla Descant numursAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:English
Publisher
:Descant Arts & Letters Foundation, Canada
Pages
:251
Year
:2004
Copyrights
:Authors
Synopsis
:An issue of literary journal in English dedicated to Latvia, includes translations of contemporary Latvian authors.
Terra Mariana
Terra Mariana (Dzejas antoloģija)
Title
: Terra MarianaTitle*
: Dzejas antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Georgian
Publisher
:Pages
:419
Year
:2016
Copyrights
:info@akka-laa.lv
Synopsis
:Poetry anthology of Latvian authors in Georgian.
The Woarld's Head
The Woarld's Head (Dzejas antoloģija)
Title
: The Woarld's HeadTitle*
: Dzejas antoloģijaAuthors
: ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Swedish
Publisher
:Oslo Pilot, Norway
Pages
:251
Year
:2015
Copyrights
:info@akka-laa.lv
Synopsis
:Poetry anthology that includes three latvian poets work translated both in Swedish and English language alongside the original texts.
Priedainė
Priedainė (Dzejas antoloģija)
Title
: PriedainėTitle*
: Dzejas antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Lithuanian
Publisher
:Apostrofa, Lithuania
Pages
:192
Year
:2008
Copyrights
:The authors, the translator;
Synopsis
:Poetry selection of twelve Latvian poets translated into Lithuanian.
Wszystkie ptaki, co we mnie…
Wszystkie ptaki, co we mnie… (Visi putni, kas manī...)
Title
: Wszystkie ptaki, co we mnie…Title*
: Visi putni, kas manī...Authors
: , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Polish
Publisher
:Warsztaty Kultury, Poland
Pages
:296
Year
:2020
Copyrights
:The authors, the publisher, the translator
Synopsis
:Contemporary Latvian Poetry Anthology
Tirpsta diena kaip ledai
Tirpsta diena kaip ledai (Dzejoļi bērniem, antoloģija)
Title
: Tirpsta diena kaip ledaiTitle*
: Dzejoļi bērniem, antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
: , , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Lithuanian
Publisher
:Slinktys
Pages
:160
Year
:2023