Gregor Elm

Gregor Elm (born 25. August 1978) is a writer and poet.

He has mostly held jobs related to seafaring. From 1997, Elm worked as an ordinary seaman on ocean-going ships, later as a deck officer on passenger ships. He has studied at Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences to become a sea captain. Elm has been captain of Lahesuu and Nasva harbours, but he has also studied at Tallinn Law Institute of the University of Tartu and cultural anthropology at the Institute of Theology of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Gregor Elm has been a member of the Estonian Writers’ Union from 2014.

The characteristic feature of Elm’s first book, the prose collection Kahel jalal kahevahel (‘On Two Feet in Two Minds’, 2002), was tender poetics. The novella Valmis nagu redis (‘Ready as a Radish’, 2005) continued reflecting the moods of the moment, sometimes tending towards surrealism. In Elm’s novel Karvane metseesel (‘Hairy Wild Donkey’, 2014), the author’s semi-autobiographical narrative mingles with the protagonist’s or protagonists’ viewpoints. Critics have called Karvane metseesel a punk or fantasy novel. Broken Clock, 2 A.M. (2026) is a novel consisting of short accounts told by many of its characters. The keywords of the book are – typically of Elm – sea, men, alcohol, absurd, humour, self-irony, and surreality.

Elm has also published several poetry collections, including one for the children: Vaadates Larat, ehk, Muinasjutud vanaemadele (‘Watching Lara, or Fairy Tales for Grandmas’, 2023).

In his later creation, Elm has continued the shrew game with absurd humour, self-irony, sometimes with sarcasm.

L. P. (Translated by I. A.)

 

Books in Estonian

Poems
Varastatud jalajälg. Toimetanud Karl Martin Sinijärv. Tallinn: Jutulind, 2008, 54 lk.
Gregorelmik, Heinapalli nöör. Pärnu; Saarde: Jumalikud Ilmutused, 2012. Pärnu: Gutenbergi Pojad, 76 lk.
Sinine ahv. Koostas (:)kivisildnik; toimetas Triin Marjapuu. Saarde; Pärnu: Jumalikud Ilmutused, 2017, 59 lk.
Laulud Crème Brûlée’le. Püünsi: Gregor Elm, 2020, 48 lk.
Vaadates Larat, ehk, Muinasjutud vanaemadele. Tallinn: Näo Kirik, 2023, 38 lk. [Lasteluuletused.]

Novels
Karvane metseesel. Pärnu: Jumalikud Ilmutused, 2013, 240 lk.
Broken Clock, 2 A.M. Tallinn: Näo Kirik, 2026, 223 lk.

Stories
Kahel jalal kahevahel. Toimetaja Ülle Tarum. Tallinn: Wellesto, 2002, 159 lk.
Valmis nagu redis. Tallinn: Wellesto, 2005, 216 lk. [Jutustus.]
Ricordi di una stanza che scompare = (Mälestused kaduvast toast). Püünsi: Näo Kirik, 2021, 134 lk.