August Jakobson (2 September 1904 – 23 May 1963) was an Estonian writer and politician. He was one of the few Estonian playwright among his contemporaries whose plays were untouched by Soviet

censorship Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...

and reached other Soviet states. He has been described as the leading Stalinist in Soviet Estonian drama. In the 1960s his work was described as "ideologically militant". Born Augustin Jakobson in

Pärnu Pärnu () is the fourth largest city in Estonia. Situated in southwest Estonia, Pärnu is located south of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and west of Estonia's second largest city, Tartu. The city sits off the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet ...

, he was the son of Mihkel Jakobson and Maria Jakobson (''née'' Moritson). Jakobson graduated from school in 1926 in Pärnu, then studied economics at the

University of Tartu The University of Tartu (UT; et, Tartu Ülikool; la, Universitas Tartuensis) is a university in the city of Tartu in Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is the only classical university in the country, and also its biggest ...

from 1926 to 1929 and medicine from 1931 to 1935. However, he left school without acquiring a formal degree. His

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

, ''Vaeste-patuste alev'' (1927), won the first place award in a literary competition sponsored by the publishing house Loodus. He was the head of the

Estonian Writers' Union The Estonian Writers Union (Eesti Kirjanike Liit, abbreviated EKL), is a professional association of Estonian writers and literary critics.Marje Jõeste, Küllo Arjakas, ''The Baltic States'', Estonian Encyclopaedia Publishers, 1991, page 64 Hist ...

in 1939–1940 and in 1944–1946 (then known as Writers' Union of the Estonian SSR). From August 1940, Jakobson was a member of a Soviet censorship committee. From 1950 to 1958 he was the head of the

Presidium of the Supreme Soviet The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (russian: Президиум Верховного Совета, Prezidium Verkhovnogo Soveta) was a body of state power in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic The Estonian SSR,, russian: Эстонская ССР officially the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic,, russian: Эстонская Советская Социалистическая Республика was an ethnically based adminis ...

. Near the

Endla Theatre Endla ( et, Endla teater) is a professional theatre in city of Pärnu, Estonia. The theatre was opened in 1911. The first performance was "Libahunt" ("Werewolf") by Estonian writer August Kitzberg. The Estonian Declaration of Independence was ...

in Pärnu stands a monument for Jakobson.

Bibliography

* ''Vaeste-patuste alev'' (1927) (novel) * "Elu tsitadellis" (1946) (play) * "Võitlus rindejooneta" (1947) (play)

References

* "Eesti kirjanduse ajalugu" part V, book 1.

Eesti Raamat Eesti Raamat (Eesti Raamat OÜ) is Estonian publisher which is located in Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn ...

, 1987. pp. 162–172. {{DEFAULTSORT:Jakobson, August 1904 births 1963 deaths People from Pärnu People from Kreis Pernau Members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Estonia Heads of state of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1947–1951 Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1951–1955 First convocation members of the Soviet of Nationalities Third convocation members of the Soviet of Nationalities Fourth convocation members of the Soviet of Nationalities Estonian male novelists 20th-century Estonian novelists Estonian dramatists and playwrights People's Writers of the Estonian SSR Stalin Prize winners Recipients of the Order of Lenin Burials at Metsakalmistu Soviet novelists

Bibliography

See also

References