Minni Katharina Nurme (until 1935 Neumann; 1936 – 1941 Raudsepp; 1941 – 1958 Hint; 30. X 1917 – 22. XI 1994) was a poet, prose writer and translator.
She was born the daughter of the farmer at Kiini farm in Paistu parish, Viljandi county. From 1925 to 1931 she attended Suure-Kõpu primary school and from 1931 to 1936 the Girls’ Gymnasium run by the Estonian Educational Society in Viljandi. During the Second World War she was in the Soviet Union and thereafter worked as a freelance writer. She was a member of the Estonian Writer’s Union from 1944. Her husband was the writer Aadu Hint; her children are the writers Eeva Park, Miina Hint and Päärn Hint.
Nurme has written prose with a documentary and psychological bent. The majority of her works consist of formally diverse traditional verse-forms and poetry that makes use of free verse. Her poems of the war years express homesickness, like in her first collection Sünnimuld (‘Birth-soil’, 1945) and the collection Pikalt teelt (‘From a Long Road’, 1947). Her individuality comes to the fore in her later poetry, which incorporates feminine nature and emotional lyrics and philosophical views on life.
Minni Nurme’s poetry has appeared in Russian and German. Her verse and prose is also found in anthologies and periodicals from many other nations.
Nurme has translated English (Byron, P.B. Shelley), American (Robert Frost) and Finnish literature.
L. P. (Translated by C. M.)
Books in Estonian
Poetry
Sünnimuld. Tallinn: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, 1945, 52 lk.
Pikalt teelt. Luuletused ja poeem. Tallinn: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, 1947, 80 lk.
Merel. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1953, 20 lk.
Juured mullas. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1957, 112 lk.
Esmaspäeva künnisel. Luuletusi 1957–1960. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1960, 76 lk.
Metsõunapuu. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1963, 72 lk.
Maarjahein. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1967, 304 lk.
Sookailudes on loitsud. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1971, 120 lk.
Kuuvein. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1974, 112 lk.
Tuules lendlev seeme. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1976, 123 lk.
Pilvede pisarad tärkamisse. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1978, 192 lk.
Päevapuri. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1981, 62 lk.
Valgevalul. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1983, 117 lk.
Puud varjulised. Luulet aastaist 1954–1986. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1987, 175 lk.
Novels
M. Raudsepp, Kentaurid. Tartu: Loodus, 1939, 192 lk.
M. Raudsepp, Ratastool. Tartu: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, 1941, 111 lk.
Stories
Lämbumine. Jutustusi ja novelle. Tallinn: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, 1946, 248 lk.
Valus küsimus. Laaste ja jutustusi. Tallinn: Ajalehtede-Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 1962, 47 lk.
Rähni laastud. Lühijutte ja miniatuure. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1966, 144 lk.