Erni Krusten

Born Apr. 17 (30), 1900, in Muraste, now in Harju Raion, Estonian SSR. Soviet Estonian writer. People’s Writer of the Estonian SSR (1972).

Krusten’s collection of stories Heather was published in 1927 and was followed by novels and novellas that were limited to explorations of psychological problems. His novel The Book of Peksy (1946) and the novella collections Turning Points (1946) and In the Name of Peace (1951) reflect changes in people’s social attitudes after Soviet power was restored in Estonia in 1940.

Krusten’s major work, the novel The Hearts of the Young (books 1–2, 1954–56; Russian translation, 1960), depicts the revolutionary events of 1905 in the Estonian villages. His later writings include the plays I Live (1956) and The Americans Have Arrived (1959), the collections of short stories Funeral of the Knout (1957) and In Search of Spring (1960; Russian translation, 1962), the novel Like a Drop in the Sea (1962; Russian translation, 1964), the collection of verse and miniature sketches luka (1963), and the short-story collection Five Stories (1968). Krusten also wrote several children’s books. He was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.