Krišjānis Zeļģis (1985) is not only a brilliant poet, but also has worked in vineyards in France, worked in Mexico, has been a locksmith, baker, librarian, and a brewer. This diversity in experiencing the tangible world has allowed a wide and rich view of life to inform his writing. Even though he is an author of just two collections of poetry, his poems have been published in various magazines, literary periodicals, and web-publications since 2003. His first collection All Those Things/Visas tās lietas was published in 2010, well received, and nominated for several awards. In a review of his most recent collection Beasts (2016), its editor Kārlis Vērdiņš says: "The protagonist of Krišjānis Zeļģis’ collection of poetry – an educated and curious city dweller – goes into nature in search of impressions. His main focus is on the wild beast which does not avoid contact with human beings, is covetous and unpredictable, and has both fun and anger in store for the hunter”. His poetry is as if written by an intrigued cultural vagabond, someone capable of seeing the entirety of the world in delicate detail, seeing it honestly.
Skaistuma klātbūtne [The Presence of Beauty]. Riga: Neputns, 2020.
Zvēri [Beasts]. Rīga: Neputns, 2016.
Mīļākie. [Loved Ones, mini-collection of poems]. Rīga: Ļoti, 2015.
Visas tās lietas [All Those Things]. Rīga: Mansards, 2010.
Books to fall for
Lettisches Literaturfilmfestival Berlin: In Riga, um Riga und um Riga herum // Tagesspiegel, May 2023 [DE]
In Estonian and Latvian poems, jokes are made about the neighbors // Viro-instituutti.fi, March 2023 [FI]
Žanete Vēvere. A Glimpse Into The Latvian Literature! // All about book publishing, February, 2023 [IN]
Don't look the Latvian in the eye. Ball of introverts. Anthology of new Latvian poetry // Sirp, January, 2023 [EE]
Latvian Literature at Frankfurt: When Introversion is a Bold Choice // Publishing Perspectives, October, 2022 [EN]
The nail of the day: beer, an interview with K.Zeļģis // Radio Eins, September 2022 [DE]
Poems by Krišjānis Zeļģis // Online magazine Punctum, 2021 [LV]
Video conversation with Kiršjānis Zeļģis // Online magazine Punctum, 2020 [LV]
Conversation with Krišjānis Zeļģis // Diena.lv, 2020 [LV]
About The Presence of Beauty // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2020 [LV]
Excerpt from Beasts // European Literature Network, 2018 [EN]
Story "Grandfather" // Online magazine Punctum, 2016 [LV]
Anda Baklāne, Bez reliģijas un bez tizlībām, review of The Presence of Beauty // Online magazine Satori, 2020 [LV]
Ilva Skulte, Žesti, review of The Presence of Beauty // Online magazine Punctum, 2020 [LV}
Elīna Kokareviča, Porcelāna lauskas, review of The Presence of Beauty // LA.lv, 2020 [LV]
Anda Baklāne, Lietas, par kurām obligāti vajadzētu parunāt, review of Beasts // Online magazine Satori, 2016 [LV]
2016, the Prose Readings special award for the story "Grandfather"
2010, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for All Those Things
Я такими глупостями больше не занимаюсь
Я такими глупостями больше не занимаюсь (Visas tās lietas)
Title
: Я такими глупостями больше не занимаюсьTitle*
: Visas tās lietasAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Russian
Publisher
:Book Institute, Russia
Pages
:Year
:2016
Copyrights
:Krišjānis Zeļģis
Synopsis
:Poetry collection in Russian of Latvian author Krišjānis Zeļģis.
Beasts
Beasts (Zvēri)
Title
: BeastsTitle*
: ZvēriAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:English
Publisher
:Parthian, UK
Pages
:71
Year
:2018
Copyrights
:The author, the translator
Synopsis
:In Beasts, Zeļģis assumes the role of curious city-dweller, who, in questioning his relationship with the natural world, realises it's not only the animals in fur and feathers whose behaviour is wild, instinctive and unpredictable.
Bèsties
Bèsties (Beasts)
Title
: BèstiesTitle*
: BeastsAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Catalan
Publisher
:Curbet Edicions, Spain
Pages
:145
Year
:2018
Copyrights
:The author, the translator, the publisher
Synopsis
:In Beasts, Zeļģis assumes the role of curious city-dweller, who, in questioning his relationship with the natural world, realises it's not only the animals in fur and feathers whose behaviour is wild, instinctive and unpredictable.
Wilde Tiere
Wilde Tiere (Zvēri)
Title
: Wilde TiereTitle*
: ZvēriAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:German
Publisher
:Parasitenpresse, Germany
Pages
:78
Year
:2020
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:In Beasts, Zeļģis assumes the role of curious city-dweller, who, in questioning his relationship with the natural world, realises it's not only the animals in fur and feathers whose behaviour is wild, instinctive and unpredictable.
Poetry Wales. Latvia via Wales: contemporary Latvian poets in translation. No.2, 2017
Poetry Wales. Latvia via Wales: contemporary Latvian poets in translation. No.2, 2017 (Mūsdienu latviešu dzejnieki Velsas literārajā žurnālā)
Title
: Poetry Wales. Latvia via Wales: contemporary Latvian poets in translation. No.2, 2017Title*
: Mūsdienu latviešu dzejnieki Velsas literārajā žurnālāAuthors
: , , , , , , ,Translated by
: , , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:English
Publisher
:Poetry wales, United Kingdom
Pages
:96
Year
:2017
Copyrights
:The contributors
Synopsis
:Poetry translations of poets that participated in poetry translation workshops in Riga and in Wales.
The Baltics Riveter
The Baltics Riveter (Baltijas literatūras almanahs)
Title
: The Baltics RiveterTitle*
: Baltijas literatūras almanahsAuthors
: , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
: , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:English
Publisher
:The Riveter, United Kingdom
Pages
:108
Year
:2018
Copyrights
:The contributors
Synopsis
:The fourth edition of the literary magazine The Riveter, that is dedicated to present literature from the Baltics, inluding guest editors, reviews and sample translations.
Ανθολογία νέων Λετονών ποιητών
Ανθολογία νέων Λετονών ποιητών (Jauno latviešu dzejnieku antoloģija)
Title
: Ανθολογία νέων Λετονών ποιητώνTitle*
: Jauno latviešu dzejnieku antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Greek
Publisher
:Vakxikon, Greece
Pages
:154
Year
:2019
Copyrights
:The publisher, the translator
Synopsis
:Anthology of young Latvian poets
MIND TÚL VAGYUNK A HATÁRON
MIND TÚL VAGYUNK A HATÁRON (All of us here are over the edge)
Title
: MIND TÚL VAGYUNK A HATÁRONTitle*
: All of us here are over the edgeAuthors
: , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Hungarian
Publisher
:Szépírók Társasága, Hungary
Pages
:139
Year
:2019
Copyrights
:The publisher, the authors, the translators
Synopsis
:Baltic poetry
Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogia
Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogia (Dzejas antoloģija)
Title
: Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogiaTitle*
: Dzejas antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Hea Lugu
Pages
:Year
:2022
Copyrights
:the author
Synopsis
:Anthology of Latvian poetry
Alfabeedi sünnimaa
Alfabeedi sünnimaa (Alfabēta dzimtene: latviešu konceptuālistu dzejas izlase)
Title
: Alfabeedi sünnimaaTitle*
: Alfabēta dzimtene: latviešu konceptuālistu dzejas izlaseAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:;paranoia, Mina Ise
Pages
:144
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The authors