Erkki Koort and Taavi Kangur

Erkki Koort (1975) is an Estonian security expert and writer. Koort’s work can be classified as historical fiction, which is very popular in recent Estonian literature, yet his works stand out for their ambition of combining historical and archaeological material with adventurous plots. Koort’s debut novel Kättemaks Kirumpääl (2018) takes the readers to an unusual period, to 1389, when mercenary Markus, who is heading for Tartu, starts to investigate the murder of his friend in Kirumpää Castle in a straightforward way characteristic of a soldier. This allows the reader to get an idea of political life in Livonia at the time, which, like our era, is quite confusing. In the novel Veritasu Tartus (2019), Markus starts working on a barge in Tartu and becomes involved in the conflict between the Bishop of Tartu and the German order. The third book in the series, Salakuulaja Vastseliinas (2020), is a prequel to the two previous stories, taking inspiration from lesser-known historical facts, such as the Pugola Squad that defended the Livonian borders in Southeastern Estonia. In addition to historical adventure and crime stories, Koort has also written Koidik surnud postkastis (2022), a spy thriller set in Estonia in the 1990s. Erkki Koort will speak to Taavi Kangur.

Taavi Kangur (1974) is an Estonian prose writer. He has published six books. Kangur’s first novel, the thriller Kõigile saab kurikaga virutada (2010), won second place in the novel competition of Tänapäev Publishers. Kangur’s fifth novel Sünk jää, otsatu põhi (2017) won the special prize of the Postimees daily at the 2017 novel competition of the Estonian Writers’ Union. This contemplative and dark crime story is connected to Kangur’s latest work, the novel Tapmise eelõhtu (2023) – the two stories are connected by a character named Ahto Laasik. Describing the life of Laasik in both hefty books – including his work at the prosecutor’s office –, Kangur is creating a textual world that allows him to combine plots with criminal elements and a psychological sensitivity and the twists of recent history. Through Ahto and his friends from his youth, the author is following the dreams linked to the end of the Soviet Union, the rebirth and development of the Republic of Estonia, and their collision with reality. Tapmise eelõhtu has been lauded both as excellent genre literature and a work that transcends and combines genres. Taavi Kangur will talk to Erkki Koort.