Vilis Pludonis

Plūdonis, Vilis 

Born Mar. 9 (21), 1874, on the farmstead of Lejnieki, now in Bauska Raion; died Jan. 15, 1940, in Riga. Latvian pcet.

After studying at the Baltic Teachers’ Seminary in Kuldīga from 1891 to 1895, Plūdonis became a schoolteacher. His first published work was the verse collection First Chords (1895). He wrote many ballads and narrative poems. His historical ballads reflect the struggle of the Latvian people against German invaders. The hard life of fishermen is dealt with in the narrative poem Two Worlds (1899). The narrative poem The Widow’s Son (1900) is about a peasant youth’s efforts to obtain an education.

Plūdonis’ poem “Requiem” (1899) was translated into Russian by A. A. Blok. The narrative poem Into the Sunlit Distance (1912) expressed faith in the Revolution of 1905–07. Late in life, Plūdonis abandoned his democratic sympathies.

WORKS

Kopoti daildarbi, vols. 1–4. Riga, 1939.
Izlase. Riga, 1965.
In Russian translation:
Izbrannoe: Stikhi, ballady, poemy. Riga, 1970.

REFERENCES

Istoriia latyshskoi literatury, vol. 1. Riga, 1971.
Latvieŝu literaturas vesture, vol. 4. Riga, 1957.
Latvieŝu literatūras darbinieki. Riga, 1965.