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- "The Golden Horse" (Zelta zirgs) a play written by Rainis is one of the most important pieces of Latvian literature. It is now translated to English by Vilis Inde.
"The Golden Horse" is a fairy tale that provided Latvians with lessons to achieve cultural autonomy and independence. Idealism - Altruism - Unity! These were the keys for victory over Imperialist Russia and the Baltic Germans who controlled Latvia at the turn of the 20th century.
Rainis wrote "The Golden Horse" following the 1905 Russian/Latvian Revolution and before the Declaration of Independence in 1918. He and his wife Aspazija were the spiritual leaders in the fight for greater rights for workers, peasants and Latvian culture.
Although independence was achieved, it was short lived. The Soviet Union annexed Latvia during World War II. Fifty years passed, and a new opportunity for freedom arose as the Soviet Union disintegrated. Therefore, Latvia achieved its second opportunity for independence in 1991.
In this play, a young peasant climbs the mountain of blue glass and green ice, wakes the princess and saves the kingdom. Good prevails over evil. Light overcomes darkness. Idealism, altruism and unity provide the path to victory at any level of society.
The "Afterword" of the book includes an extensive discussion of Latvian history and Rainis' crucial role in Latvia's independence movement. It provides the key to understanding the symbolism that was obvious to every Latvian at the time it was written.
The translation also introduces the reader to important aspects of Latvian culture. Perhaps, the most important is the close relationship with nature. Rainis polishes the amber so that the reader can see the detail within.
Rainis' lessons are forever timely and relevant though out the world, Latvia and even the individual.
- In English
Paperback, 226 pages, format: 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" (20 x 13 cm)
- Published in US
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