Debora Vaarandi

{{Infobox writer

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| name = Debora Vaarandi

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| image = Debora Vaarandi portree, Kaarel Liimand, TKM TR 1714 M 353.jpg

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| caption = Portrait of Debora Vaarandi, by Kaarel Liimand (1940)

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| birth_name = Debora Trull

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|10|01|df=y}}

| birth_place = Võru, Russian Empire

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|04|28|1916|10|01|df=y}}

| death_place = Tallinn, Estonia

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| occupation = Writer

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| nationality = Estonian

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| education = University of Tartu

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| notable_works = Põleva laotuse all

| spouse = Aadu Hint, Juhan Smuul

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| awards = Order of the White Rose of Finland{{Clarify|reason=Which class?|date=November 2024}}

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File:Debora Vaarandi haud.JPG]]

Debora Vaarandi (born Debora Trull; 1 October 1916 – 28 April 2007) was an Estonian writer, considered to be a leading literary figure in post–World War II Estonia.{{cite web |url=http://www.eesti.ca/bird-droppings-from-estonia-debora-vaarandi-1916-2007/article19386 |title=Bird Droppings from Estonia: Debora Vaarandi (1916-2007) |work=Estonian World Review |date=March 20, 2008}} Many of her poems were set to music. Vaarandi was a recipient of the first Juhan Liiv Poetry Award, and was recognized with the Cultural Award of the Republic of Estonia for outstanding lifetime achievement.

Biography

Debora Vaarandi was born in Võru on 1 October 1916 to Julianus and Tamara Trull (née Ella). She grew up on the island of Saaremaa. Vaarandi studied language and literature at the University of Tartu.

In 1936, she married Aadu Hint; the couple later divorced. She joined the Communist Party of Estonia in 1940. When the Germans invaded Estonia, she escaped to Russia, returning to Estonia in 1944. Although not trained as a journalist, she worked as editor in chief of the communist newspaper Sirp ja Vasar. She was forced to resign that post after contracting tuberculosis.

In 1946, her first collection of poetry Põleva laotuse all ("Under a Blazing Sky") was published. Her work celebrates values such as the love of nature, the importance of family and the beauty of small things. Many of her poems have been set to music.

In 1952, she married the writer Juhan Smuul.{{cite news |url=http://epl.delfi.ee/news/kultuur/debora-vaarandi-malestusvaarsed-aastad?id=51046349 |title=Debora Vaarandi mälestusväärsed aastad |newspaper=Eesti Päevaleht |date=August 5, 2006 |language=et}} After 1977, she focused on translating works by Anna Akhmatova, Georg Trakl, and Edith Södergran into Estonian. She was awarded the Order of the White Rose of Finland{{Clarify|reason=Which class?|date=November 2024}} for her work in translating Finnish poetry into Estonian.

Awards and honors

1965, she received the first Juhan Liiv Poetry Award
2005, she was recognized with the Cultural Award of the Republic of Estonia for outstanding lifetime achievement.