Velta Sniķere

Biography

Velta Sniķere (1920 - 2022) is a Latvian poet, translator and a yoga instructor. She studied history and philosophy at the University of Latvia. Since 1946 Sniķere lives in London, United Kingdom. Sniķere is regarded as a representative of avant-garde, modernism and surrealism in Latvian poetry. Her poetry is surrounded with magic and symbolism, it maintains a connection with the archetypal and folkloric imagery of the world of different nations. Sniķere has been an active member of the PEN international club and the British League of European Freedom. She is one of the founders of the British Wheel of Yoga organisation. Sniķere has translated Latvian Folk songs (Dainas) into English and it was published by Apgāds Mansards in 2018. In 2007 Velta Sniķere was awarded the Order of the Three Stars and in 2019 the Annual Latvian Literature Lifetime Achievement award.

Bibliography

Poetry
Gaisma un noslēpumi [Light and Secrets]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2010.
Pieredze [Experience]. Riga: Mansards, 2010.
Savādībiņas [Strange Things]. Riga: Valters un Rapa, 2009.
Pietuvoties vārdiem [Getting Closer to Words]. Riga: Apostrofs, 2003.
Husks. Paris: Librairie-Galerie Racine, 1999.
Lietu mutes [Mouths of Things]. Riga: Artava, 1991.
Piesaukšana [Invocation]. Copenhagen: Imanta, 1967.
Nemitas minamais Chicago: Alfrēda Kalnāja apgāds, 1961.
Trīs autori [The Three Authors]. Stickholm: Daugava, 1950.

Translations
Dainas. Riga: Mansards, 2019.
Andrejs Eglītis "Hand holds hand". Riga: Pils, 2001.
Zinaīda Lazda "A green leaf". Maidstone (Kent): Woodcutter Press, 1986.
Andrejs Eglītis "Gallows over Europe". London : John Calder; New York: Riverrun Press, 1984.
Various authors "Contemporary Latvian poetry". Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1983.
Andrejs Eglītis "No such place lasts summerlong". Derbyshire: Bakewell, 1974.
Andrejs Eglītis "God, Thy earth is aflame: Latvian prayer". Stockholm: O. Sakārnis, 1948.

Articles

About translation of Dainas // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2019 [LV]

About translation of Dainas // UbiSunt, University of Latvia, 2019 [LV]

About Velta Sniķere's Lifetime Achievement Award // LA.lv, 2019 [LV]

About Light and Secret // LA.lv, 2014 [LV]

Conversation with Velta Sniķere // Diena.lv, 2013 [LV]

Reviews

Lalita Muižniece, Dzeja ir esmē urbšanās skaidas, review of Getting Closer to Words // Jaunā Gaita, Nr.241, 2005 [LV]

Awards

2019, the Annual Latvian Literature Lifetime Achievement Award

2007, the Order of the Three Stars

2004, The World Federation of Free Latvians Award for Getting Closer to Words