Osvalds Zebris (1975) is a Latvian writer and journalist. Zebris has worked as an editor for various newspapers and magazines.
Osvalds Zebris' first book – a collection of short stories “Freedom in Nets” (2010) brought him instant popularity among readers and won him the Annual Latvian Literary Award for best début. The novel “People of the Wooden House” (2013) tells a mystery of a strange wooden house in one of the oldest neighborhoods of Riga. The novel “In the Shadow of Rooster Hill” (2014) was written and published for the historical novel series “We. Latvia. The 20th Century”, set in 1905 when the country was part of the Russian Empire, – won the European Union Prize for Literature and is being translated into 8 languages. “Māra” (2019) is a novel about a group of sixteen-year-olds. It tells of their first encounter with pivotal choices and decisions. A collection of short stories “Doubt” (2021) is dedicated to some writers and poets close to O. Zebris. The last novel – “Mežakaija” (Gulls of Prey, 2022) – tells about a famous Latvian writer in exile Gunars Janovskis, and addresses the question of how (and – why) a writer is formed.
Osvalds Zebris is a member of the Latvian Writers' Union.
Mežakaija ["Gulls of Prey"]. Rīga: Dienas Grāmata, 2022.
Šaubas [Doubt]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2021.
Māra [Mara]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2019.
Gaiļu kalna ēnā [In the Shadow of Rooster Hill]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2014.
Koka nama ļaudis [People of the Wooden House]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2013.
Brīvība tīklos [Freedom in Nets]. Riga: Jāņa Rozes apgāds, 2010.
Books to fall for

In the Shadow of Rooster Hill
In the Shadow of Rooster Hill (Gaiļu kalna ēnā)
Winner of the 2017 European Union Prize for Literature and a nominee for the 2014 Annual Latvian Literature Award, this novel is a about the birth of the national consciousness of the Latvian nation, one generation of the nation’s teachers, the courage to oppose the insanity of violence and the consequences of failing to prevail over personal fear. It is 1905 in Riga, a city rocked by workers’ riots, violence, and pogroms during the waning days of the Russian Empire, when the Tsar is gradually losing his grip over his vast domain. Revolution is in the air – brother pitted against brother, social unrest and turmoil force people to choose sides. Amid this upheaval, a former schoolteacher becomes involved in the revolution, but soon realizes that the impending war is bound to require more of him than he is willing to give.
Contacts: Dace Sparāne-Freimane, dace.sparane-freimane@dgramata.lv
InTheShadowOfRoosterHill_by_O.Zebris.pdf

Title
:In the Shadow of Rooster Hill
Title*
:Gaiļu kalna ēnā
Authors
:Genre
:Fiction
Publisher
:Dienas Grāmata
Pages
:176
Year
:2014
Foreign rights
:Rights sold to France, Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Hungary, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria

Māra
Māra (Māra)
Māra is a novel about a group of sixteen-year olds. It tells of their first encounter with pivotal choices and decisions. Māra, the protagonist, has been close friends with three classmates—Edgar, Paul, and Mārtiņš—since first grade. In high school, she is forced to deal with problems resulting from two new classmates, and with her friends’ betrayal. Then, the long-cherished friendship suddenly shatters. When even her own home isn’t safe anymore, when the old foundations have disappeared but she doesn’t yet have new ones underfoot, Māra ends up making a desperate move...
This is a story about courage—about Māra’s journey from self-awareness to her acceptance and manifestation of that awareness. In the four parts of the novel, Māra deals with what she believes are mistakes, inadequacies, and the fact that she doesn’t fit in—issues that are all so significant in adolescence. Sometimes these issues remain significant throughout someone’s life. That’s why this isn’t stereotypical “YA literature.” Rather, it’s literature that explores the process of growing up.
Contact: Dace Sparāne-Freimane, dace.sparane-freimane@dgramata.lv
Mara_by_O.Zebris.pdf

Title
:Māra
Title*
:Māra
Authors
:Genre
:Fiction
Publisher
:Dienas Grāmata
Pages
:224
Year
:2019
Foreign rights
:All languages available
About Gulls of Prey // Diena.lv, 2022 [LV]
About Doubt // Online magazine Satori, 2021 [LV]
About In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Justaword.fr, 2020 [FR]
About Mara // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2019 [LV]
Conversation with Osvalds Zebris // Online magazine Punctum, 2016 [LV]
European Prize for Literature, Winners 2017, Osvalds Zebris // European Prize for Literature website [EN, FR]
Interview with Osvalds Zebris // Diena.lv, 2014 [LV]
In the Shadow of Rooster Hill (excerpt) // Trafika Europe 3 [EN]
Cristiana Abbate. European literary itinerary. Latvia // Senzalinea, February 2022 [IT]
Review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Cafards at Home blog, 2020 [FR]
Review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Evadez-Moi blog, 2020 [FR]
Review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Bablio.com, 2020 [FR]
Review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Lyvres blog, 2020 [FR]
Gringo Pimento, review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Addict-culture.fr, 2020 [FR]
Review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Songazine.fr, 2020 [FR]
Review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // The Reading Session blog, 2020 [FR]
Review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Babelio.com, 2020 [FR]
Bārbala Simsone, Pilna manis istabiņa, review of Mara // Online magazine Satori, 2019 [LV]
Inga Žolude, Melnā grāmata, review of Mara // Diena.lv, 2019 [LV]
Bārbala Simsone, Pagātnes ēnu projektors, review of In the Shadow of Rooster Hill // Diena.lv, 2014 [LV]
Guntis Berelis, Osvalda Zebra postapokaliptiskā apokalipse, review of People of the Wooden House // Critic Guntis Berelis' literary blog, 2013 [LV]
Anda Baklāne, Nāvīgie fragmenti, review of Freedom in Nets // Online magazine Satori, 2011 [LV]
In print
2018_Zebris_Bookwitty_Interview.pdf
2023, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Gulls of Prey
2017, European Union Prize for Literature for In the Shadow of Rooster Hill
2015, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award Best Prose for In the Shadow of Rooster Hill
2014, for People of the Wooden House shortlisted for Latvian Literature Award as the Best Prose Work of the year.
2011, the Annaul Latvian Literature Award Best Debut for Freedom in Nets.

In the Shadow of Rooster Hill / First Lines
In the Shadow of Rooster Hill / First Lines (Fragments no romāna "Gaiļu kalna ēnā")

Title
: In the Shadow of Rooster Hill / First LinesTitle*
: Fragments no romāna "Gaiļu kalna ēnā"Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:English
Publisher
:BCLT, United Kingdom
Pages
:80
Year
:2015
Copyrights
:Osvalds Zebris
Synopsis
:A fragment in English of Osvalds Zebris book "In the Shadow of Rooster Hill" inculded in an anthology.

In the Shadow of Rooster Hill / Twelve Winning Authors, 2017
In the Shadow of Rooster Hill / Twelve Winning Authors, 2017 (Fragments no romāna "Gaiļu kalna ēnā")

Title
: In the Shadow of Rooster Hill / Twelve Winning Authors, 2017Title*
: Fragments no romāna "Gaiļu kalna ēnā"Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:English
Publisher
:European Union Prize for literature, EU
Pages
:204
Year
:2017
Copyrights
:Osvalds Zebris, Jayde Thomas Will, Dienas Grāmata
Synopsis
:A Samle of a novel "In The Shadow of Rooster Hill" by Osvalds Zebris included in an anthology of EU Proze for Literature winners.

U senci petlovog brda
U senci petlovog brda (Gaiļu kalna ēnā)

Title
: U senci petlovog brdaTitle*
: Gaiļu kalna ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Serbian
Publisher
:Areté, Serbia
Pages
:172
Year
:2018
Synopsis
:It is 1905 in Riga – the Russian Tsar is slowly losing power over his vast empire, and the city is being rocked by worker riots, violence and pogroms.

Gyermekrablás Rigában
Gyermekrablás Rigában (Gaiļu kalna ēnā)

Title
: Gyermekrablás RigábanTitle*
: Gaiļu kalna ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Hungarian
Publisher
:L’Harmattan Kiadó, Hungary
Pages
:200
Year
:2019
Synopsis
:It is 1905 in Riga – the Russian Tsar is slowly losing power over his vast empire, and the city is being rocked by worker riots, violence and pogroms.

В сянката на петльов връх
В сянката на петльов връх (Gaiļu kalna ēnā )

Title
: В сянката на петльов връхTitle*
: Gaiļu kalna ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Bulgarian
Publisher
:Paradox, Bulgaria
Pages
:242
Year
:2019
Synopsis
:It is 1905 in Riga – the Russian Tsar is slowly losing power over his vast empire, and the city is being rocked by worker riots, violence and pogroms.

All’ombra della Collina dei galli
All’ombra della Collina dei galli (Gaiļu kalna ēnā)

Title
: All’ombra della Collina dei galliTitle*
: Gaiļu kalna ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Italian
Publisher
:Mimesis Edizioni, Italy
Pages
:234
Year
:2019
Synopsis
:It is 1905 in Riga – the Russian Tsar is slowly losing power over his vast empire, and the city is being rocked by worker riots, violence and pogroms.

Nën hijen e kodrës së gjelave
Nën hijen e kodrës së gjelave (Gaiļu kalna ēnā)

Title
: Nën hijen e kodrës së gjelaveTitle*
: Gaiļu kalna ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Albanian
Publisher
:Botime Pegi, Albania
Pages
:234
Year
:2020
Synopsis
:It is 1905 in Riga – the Russian Tsar is slowly losing power over his vast empire, and the city is being rocked by worker riots, violence and pogroms.

A l'ombre de la Butte-aux-Coqs
A l'ombre de la Butte-aux-Coqs (Gaiļu kalna ēnā )

Title
: A l'ombre de la Butte-aux-CoqsTitle*
: Gaiļu kalna ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:French
Publisher
:Agullo Editions, France
Pages
:260
Year
:2020
Copyrights
:The author, the publisher
Synopsis
:It is 1905 in Riga – the Russian Tsar is slowly losing power over his vast empire, and the city is being rocked by worker riots, violence and pogroms.

Freedom in Nets
Freedom in Nets ()

Title
: Freedom in NetsTitle*
:Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:English
Publisher
:Mimesis International, Italy
Pages
:136
Year
:2020
Synopsis
:Osvalds Zebris’ stories capture those moments of existence visible only to the most attentive observer, laying particular attention on language and an idiosyncratic vision of the world.

U sjeni Pijetlovog brda
U sjeni Pijetlovog brda (Gaiļu kalna ēnā)

Title
: U sjeni Pijetlovog brdaTitle*
: Gaiļu kalna ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Croatian
Publisher
:Sandorf Publishing, Croatia
Pages
:216
Year
:2020
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:It is 1905 in Riga – the Russian Tsar is slowly losing power over his vast empire, and the city is being rocked by worker riots, violence and pogroms.

Libertà nelle reti
Libertà nelle reti (Brīvība tīklos)

Title
: Libertà nelle retiTitle*
: Brīvība tīklosAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Italian
Publisher
:Mimesis Edizioni, Italy
Pages
:Year
:2020

Maarja
Maarja (Māra)

Title
: MaarjaTitle*
: MāraAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Päike ja Pilv
Pages
:240
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator

Լատվիայի յամանակակից արձակ
Լատվիայի յամանակակից արձակ (Mūsdienu latviešu proza)

Title
: Լատվիայի յամանակակից արձակTitle*
: Mūsdienu latviešu prozaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Armenian
Publisher
:Antares, Armenia
Pages
:382
Year
:2013
Synopsis
:Anthology of contemporary Latvian prose

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