Andrus Kasemaa
Andrus Kasemaa (b. 18. VI 1984) is an Estonian poet and prose writer.
He attended Alatskivi High School and went on to complete his studies at the University of Tartu in literature and cultural studies in 2009.
Kasemaa is from Juhan Liiv country, or, in other words, the edges of Alatskivi, and thus one may assume that Juhan Liiv’s poetry and lifestyle had some influence on him. After being repeatedly nominated for the Juhan Liiv Poetry Prize, Kasemaa finally won the 40th Juhan Liiv Poetry Prize in 2018 for his poem Oma kaasaegsetele (‘For My Contemporaries’, published in the collection Olla luuletaja (‘To Be a Poet’, 2017).
Kasemaa’s poetry is simple, but multifaceted and diverse. In his debut collection, nature lyrics and elements of landscape play a key role, gradually becoming darker in tone and even morbid, in symbolic context. Time, dimension of place and home are important to the author. Many texts realistically depict his modern social context and the local landscape along Lake Peipsi. Metsakuru (‘Forest Gorge’, 2020) is a collection of prose poems inspired by Estonian forests.
In addition to poetry, he has published several works of prose that do not lack in poetic leanings. Both his poetry and prose have been regarded as honest and genuine, emphatic with a display of social acuity. He is considered a follower of truth—on both the subjects of love and death—and a writer of a younger generation who asks questions that many others dare not.
The novel Ema tuba. Tulekahjufantaasia (‘Mother’s Room. A Fire Fantasy’, 2022) tells the story of the protagonist’s shame over poverty and his home, and his plan to burn it down to fraudulently collect money from insurance so that his mother could finally build a beautiful home. Au kolhoosikorrale! (‘Glory to the Collective Farms!’, 2023), which could be called a novel in short stories, describes the lives of ordinary people in the collective farms of the Estonian SSR. The novel was largely inspired by the writer’s mother and her memories. The novel Meie kangelased (‘Our Heroes’, 2025) largely continues the theme of Au kolhoosikorrale! and is also largely based on the recollections of Kasemaa’s parents.
From 2024-2026, Kasemaa received the Writers’ Salary.
M. K. (Translated by M. M.)
Books in Estonian
Poems
Poeedirahu. Tartu: Ilmamaa, 2008, 64 lk.
Lagunemine. Tallinn: EKSA, 2009, 135 lk.
Kustutamatud õhtud. Tallinn: Tuum, 2012, 71 lk.
Olla luuletaja. Tallinn: Tuum, 2017, 88 lk.
Kui ma kord suren. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2018, 83 lk.
Muusa. Tallinn: Tuum, 2019; 81 lk.
Mees otsib naist. Tallinn: EKSA, 2019, 128 lk.
Silmapilk tagasi. Tallinn: EKSA, 2020, 61 lk.
Minu lõhn. Luuletusi 2015-2021. Tallinn: Tuum, 2021, 78 lk.
Pipraterake. Tallinn: EKSA, 2021, 86 lk.
Prose
Leskede kadunud maailm. Tallinn: Varrak, 2012, 176 lk.
Minu viimane raamat. Tallinn: Varrak, 2014, 164 lk.
Vanapoiss. Tallinn: Kultuurileht (Loomingu Raamatukogu), 2019, 107 lk.
Metsakuru. Tallinn: EKSA, 2020, 150 lk.
Ema tuba. Tulekahjufantaasia. Tallinn: EKSA, 2022, 149 lk.
Au kolhoosikorrale!. Tallinn: Varrak, 2023, 223 lk.
Minu kangelased. Tallinn: Varrak, 2025, 293 lk.
