Cross, Jaan

Graduate of Jacob Westholm Gymnasium . In 1938 he entered the law faculty of the University of Tartu . During World War II, Cross worked as a military translator and avoided conscription to the German army. On April 21, 1944, the security police of the Ostland Reichskommissariat arrested by the security police and was detained in Tallinn Central Prison for five months were arrested on suspicion of nationalist political events. In 1945 , after the Red Army reoccupied Estonia, Cross escaped from prison.

In 1945, after graduating from the University of Tartu Law School, he continued to work at the university as a teacher. He was an assistant professor in the department of international law.

In January 1946, the NKVD was arrested and sent to hard labor at the coal mines of the Vorkuta correctional labor camp in the Komi ASSR. He was released from the camp shortly before the Vorkuta uprising . In exile, he worked at a brick factory in the Krasnoyarsk Territory . During this time, he wrote most of his poems, which he was able to publish only later, upon returning to Estonia.

He returned to Estonia in 1954 . In the summer of next year, his poems began to be printed in Estonian newspapers. They received critical acclaim, and in 1958 his first collection of poetry was released. Cross was admitted to the Writers' Union of the Estonian SSR. For several years he was engaged in translation (including translated into Estonian "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"), and also published five collections of poems.

Author of poetry collections "Stone Violins" ( 1964 ), "Songs on the Tank" ( 1966 ), "It Makes Wonderful Works" ( 1969 ), "The Flow and the Trident" ( 1971 ).

In 1970, his first historical novel “Four monologues about St. George” (Neli monoloogi Püha Jüri asjus) was published. He was awarded the Friedebert Tuglas literary prize. In 1971, Cross was elected President of the Writers' Union of the Estonian SSR, in 1976 and 1981 he was elected secretary of the Union. In 1970, 1972, 1977 and 1980, his four-part chronicle novel “Three Poetrias” was published, another translation of the title into Russian - “Three Plagues”) about Pastor Baltazar Russow.

In 1978, one of his best historical novels, The Imperial Madman , was released on the events of the 19th century, where the reader could feel the parallels of human relations with the power of the Soviet Union. The protagonist of the novel is Colonel Timofei von Bock , who was imprisoned in Shlisselburg and the Peter and Paul Fortress , and in the last years of his life he was declared insane for writing to Alexander I with harsh criticism of his reign. In later novels autobiographical elements dominate. In 1984, the novel “Care of Professor Martens” about the famous scientist, diplomat, professor of international law Fedor Martens was published .

In his works, Cross on historical experience (his work was distinguished by heightened attention to the authenticity of facts) reflected on the relationship between rigorism and compromise, idealism and practicality, trying not to judge but to understand his characters, their complex inner world. One of his heroes, General Ivan Mikhelson , challenges the nobility assembly by inviting elderly peasant parents to the Estland knighthood in a solemn ceremony of his transfer to Yelelyan Pugachev in Russia (“ Immaturation of Michelson”). Professor Martens, using a well-deserved scientific authority, "plays up" his country in complex issues of international law, even at the cost of contradictions with previously expressed views - and at the same time consistently defends the principle of civilization in his writings, which differs from the internal political practice of the Russian government (“The departure of a professor Martens ”). The publisher Jansen publishes an Estonian newspaper, laying the foundations for a national periodical press — while receiving secret subsidies from the German nobility in exchange for adjusting the course of his newspaper. And his son, uncompromisingly rejecting such a position of the father in his youth, actively protects him in the years of his old age (“An hour on a chair that rotates”).

He translated the works of G. Heine , B. Brecht , I. R. Becher , F. Schiller , A. S. Griboyedov and others into Estonian.

After Estonia restored independence, Cross became involved in politics, and in his 72 years (from 1992 to 1993) he was a member of the Estonian parliament . ^[6]

He died in Tallinn on December 27, 2007. He was buried in the Rahumäe cemetery ^[7] .

Laureate of the literary prize them. J. Smuula ( 1971 ), Friedebert Tuglas Literary Prize, Estonian SSR State Prize ( 1977 ), Amnesty International Literary Prize ( 1990 ), Estonian Republic Culture Awards ( 1994 , 1999 ), Baltic Assembly Literary Prize ( 1999 ), cultural award for life achievements in the field of literature ( 2006 ).

People's Writer of the Estonian SSR ( 1985 ).

He was awarded the Soviet Order "Badge of Honor" (February 18, 1980) ^[8] , the Estonian Order of the State Emblem of the 1st Degree ( 1996 ), the Cross of Merit ( Hungary , 1993 ), the Great Cross of Merit ( FRG , 1995 ), the Cross of the Republic of Estonia ( 2006 ).

Honorary Doctor of the University of Tartu ( 1989 ), Honorary Doctor of the University of Helsinki ( 1990 ), Professor of the Arts of the University of Tartu ( 1998 ).

In 1940 - 1949 he was married to Helga Pedusaar. In 1952 - 1958 he was married to Helga Roos, with whom he had a daughter Kristiina (born 1955 ), who took the surname Ross and became a famous Estonian linguist . In 1958, he married a children's poet and writer Ellen Niyt , married to the children of Maarja (born 1959 , her husband’s last name was Undusk), Eerik-Niyles (born 1967 ), national security consultant, entrepreneur, publicist, former diplomat, adviser to the president of Estonia, head of department in the interim government of Iraq , and Merten (born 1970 , Estonian real estate developer , film producer and photographer ).

Tallinn, Harju Street , 1 (House of Writers)

• Kolme katku vahel ( Three Manners , Parts 1-4, 1970–1980)
• Mardileib ( Martov Khleb , 1973, in Russian - 1974)
• Keisri hull (The Imperial Madman , 1978, French Prize for the best foreign book )
• Rakvere romaan (Rakvere novel, 1982)
• Professor Martensi ärasõit ( Care of Professor Martens , 1984)
• Wikmani poisid ( Wikman High School students , 1988)
• Väljakaevamised ( Excavations , 1990)
• Mesmeri ring ( Mesmer's Circle , 1995)
• Paigallend ( Flight at the site , 1998)
• Tahtamaa (2001)
• Paigallend ( Treading Air , 2002)
• Kallid kaasteelised ( Dear Co-travelers , 2003)
• Omaeluloolisus ja alltekst ( Autobiographism and Subtext , 2003)
• Vandenõu ( The Conspiracy and other stories )

• Estonian biographical dictionary . - Tallinn, 2002.

• L. Anninsky His cross. On the historical prose of Jaan Cross // Cross J. Imperial madman. - M. , 1985.
• L. Anninsky The third opportunity // Friendship of Peoples - M. , 2001.

• The book of Jaan Cross “Martov Bread” is presented in Moscow (inaccessible link) // Novosti ERR , 12/31/2009
• Jaan Cross: There is only what is ahead (inaccessible link) // Novosti ERR, 02.19.2010
• February 19, 2010 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of Jaan Cross (inaccessible link)