{"id":488,"date":"2024-04-03T23:39:53","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T20:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/niit\/"},"modified":"2024-09-10T10:02:25","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T07:02:25","slug":"niit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/n\/niit\/","title":{"rendered":"Ellen Niit"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Poems<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Short stories<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Plays<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
About Ellen Niit<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n


Ellen Niit (n\u00e9e Ellen Hiob, official name 1949\u20131958 Ellen Niit, from 1958 Ellen Kross, 13 July 1928 \u2013 30 May 2016) was an Estonian children\u2019s writer, poet and translator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellen Niit received her primary education in Tallinn, studied Estonian language and literature at Tartu State University from 1947\u20131952 and took postgraduate studies in children\u2019s literature there from 1952\u20131956. Niit was a member of the Society of Estonian Women Students. After graduating from the university, Niit started working as a poetry consultant of the Estonian Writers\u2019 Union (working there in 1956\u20131961) and as a non-staff editor of Estonian Television (1961\u20131963). Ellen Niit was a member of the Estonian Writers\u2019 Union from 1954, a freelance writer from 1963. From 1949\u20131958, Ellen Niit was married to folklore and literature researcher Heldur Niit, and from 1958 to writer Jaan Kross<\/a>. Their daughter is poet and artist Maarja Undusk<\/a> (b. 1959), who has written the multi-award-winning monograph Heleda m\u00f5tte laast<\/em> (\u2018A Shard of Bright Thought\u2019, 2022) about her mother. Their sons are politician and writer Eerik-Niiles Kross (b. 1967) and film director and writer M\u00e4rten Kross<\/a> (b. 1970). In cooperation with the Writers\u2019 Union, their children issue the Jaan Kross prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niit has written mainly for children but also poetry for adults. Her first poems were published during her school days, in the 1940s, under the name Ellen Hiob in the newspaper Noorte H\u00e4\u00e4l<\/em> and in the journal Looming<\/em>. Her modernist poetry was fiercely attacked during her university days, which is why her first poetry collection was published as late as in 1960. In Niit\u2019s later poetry, a significant role belongs to crisp experiences of nature and patriotic feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellen Niit\u2019s first published book was the children\u2019s poem Kuidas leiti n\u00e4\u00e4ripuu<\/em> (\u2018How the New Year Tree Was Found\u2019, 1954), soon followed by Rongis\u00f5it<\/em> (\u2018Train Ride\u2019, 1957) with which several generations of young children have grown up, as Gustav Ernesaks\u2019s melody helped increase its popularity among them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her works are still popular among children and are read in primary schools. Their characters are Kr\u00f5ll, a kind of furry animal with a long tail, Pille-Riin, a girl with two pigtails, and the twins Triinu and Taavi. The verse story Suur maalrit\u00f6\u00f6<\/em> (\u2018The Great Painting Job\u2019) about the creation of the world, about colours or the lack of them has also been turned into a short film. The illustrations by artist Edgar Valter have greatly contributed to the success of many of her works among children. In addition to children\u2019s prose, Ellen Niit has also written children\u2019s plays; a large part of her masterful and concise intellectual work is in verse, and a lot of it has been set to music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most essential among her poetry collections for adults is Paekivi laul<\/em> (\u2018Song of the Limestone\u2019, 1998), among children\u2019s poetry Midrimaa<\/em> (1974) and Suur suislepapuu<\/em> (\u2018The Great Appletree\u2019, 1983).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niit has translated poetry from Hungarian, Finnish and Russian. Her own works have been translated into Russian, Finnish, English, German, Dutch, Latvian, Lithuanian, French and Polish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She and her creation received many awards: Estonian SSR Annual Literary Prize for the book Lahtiste uste p\u00e4ev<\/em> (\u2018Day of Open Doors\u2019, 1971), the title of the Merited Writer of the Estonian SSR (1977), the annual Juhan Smuul<\/a> Literary Prize for Triinu ja Taavi uued ja vanad lood<\/em> (\u2018Triinu and Taavi\u2019s New and Old Stories\u2019, 1978), Karl Eduard S\u00f6\u00f6t<\/a> Prize for children\u2019s poetry for the books Tere, tere, lambatall!<\/em> (\u2018Hello, Hello, Little Lamb\u2019) and Kuidas Kr\u00f5ll tahtis p\u00f5randat pesta<\/em> (\u2018How Kr\u00f5ll Wanted to Wash the Floor\u2019, both 1993), Juhan Liiv<\/a> Poetry Prize for the collection Aeg voolab<\/em> (\u2018Time is Flowing\u2019, 1996), the Order of the White Star, 3rd Class (1999), Literature Endowment Annual Award for the book \u00dchel viivul vikervalgel<\/em> (\u2018At a Bright Rainbow Moment\u2019, 1999), the Eduard Vilde<\/a> Prize in Literature for Paekivi laul<\/em> (\u2018Song of the Limestone\u2019, 1999), the Estonian National Culture Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award (2003), the Lifetime Achievement Award of the E. W. Ponkala Foundation for the development of cultural relations between Finland, Estonia and Hungary over decades (2005), the Estonian National Culture Award for Lifetime Achievement (2009), the Tallinn Coat of Arms Badge (2010). In addition, she was a candidate for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2004\u20132009, and in 2018 she was on the White Ravens list with the book Onu \u00f6\u00f6bik \u00d6\u00f6sorri t\u00e4navast<\/em> (\u2018Uncle Nightingale from Nightjar Street\u2019). In 2009, a bust of Ellen Niit by sculptor Erna Viitol was unveiled in the sculpture park of S\u00e1ndor Pet\u00f6fi\u2019s translators in Kisk\u00f6r\u00f6s, Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M. K. (Translated by I. A.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Books in Estonian<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Poems<\/em><\/strong>
Maa on t\u00e4is leidmist<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1960, 136 lk.
Linnuvoolija<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1970, 93 lk.
Vee peal k\u00e4ija<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1977, 112 lk.
Maailma pidevus<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1978, 285 lk.
S\u00fcgispeeglim\u00e4ng<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1981, 25 lk.
Paekivi laul<\/strong>. Tallinn: Virgela, 1998, 368 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2008, 390 lk].
Aastatel on tiivad<\/strong>. Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2019, 248 lk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children\u2019s literature<\/em><\/strong>
Kuidas leiti n\u00e4\u00e4ripuu<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1954, 20 lk
Rongis\u00f5it<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1957, 14 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1963, 13 lk; 3. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1986, 20 lk; 4. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tiritamm, 2001, 16 lk; 5. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tiritamm, 2004, 16 lk; 6. tr\u00fckk: Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2022, 36 lk]
Pille-Riini lood<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1963, 112 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1971, 101 lk; 3. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tiritamm, 2003, 96 lk; 4. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus, 2008, 88 lk, 5. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2013, 144 lk].
Jutt j\u00e4nesepojast, kes ei tahtnud magama j\u00e4\u00e4da<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1967, 12 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1970, 16 lk; 3. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tiritamm, 2007, 16 lk].
Karud saavad aru<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1967, 25 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1971, 24 lk; 3. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1972, 24 lk; 4. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti P\u00e4evaleht, 2010, 24 lk].
P\u00e4hklist paat<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1968, 16 lk.
\u00d5ues kasvab tiritamm<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1968, 48 lk.
Imeline autobuss<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1968, 16 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2009, 16 lk]
Triinu ja Taavi jutud<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1970, 28 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Triinu ja Taavi uued ja vanad lood. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1977, 52 lk; 3. tr\u00fckk, Triinu ja Taavi lood. Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus, 2007, 63 lk; 4. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2017, 84 lk].
Suur maalrit\u00f6\u00f6<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1971, 35 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1985, 35 lk; 3. tr\u00fckk, Tartu: Elmatar, 2008, 35 lk; 4. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2015, 38 lk].
Lahtiste uste p\u00e4ev<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1973, 12 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1970, 62 lk.
Midrimaa<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1974, 107 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 2000, 108 lk].
Triinu ja Taavi taskuteater<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1975, 253 lk.
N\u00e4\u00e4riametid<\/strong>. Tallinn: Kunst, 1977, 25 lk.
Oma olemine, turteltulemine<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1979, 99 lk.
Kr\u00f5lli-raamat<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1979, 40 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk Kr\u00f5ll, Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2016, 75 lk].
Filmikr\u00f5ll<\/strong>. Tallinn: Perioodika, 1980, 16 lk.
J\u00e4nesepoja\u00f5htu koos isaga<\/strong>. Tallinn: Perioodika, 1982, 22 lk.
Suur suislepapuu<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1983, 279 lk.
Enne punaseid palituid<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1984, 72 lk.
Seitse v\u00e4ikest kuulujuttu<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1984, 48 lk.
Meil maal<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1985, 12 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk: Postimees Grupp, 2016, 16 lk].
T\u00f5mblukuga kass<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1989, 16 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Argo, 2005, 16 lk].
Tere, tere, lambatall!<\/strong> Tallinn: ?, 1993, 18 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus, 2010, 32 lk].
Kuidas Kr\u00f5ll tahtis p\u00f5randat pesta<\/strong>. Tartu: Elmatar, 1993, 14 lk.
Kr\u00f5ll ja igasugused h\u00e4\u00e4led<\/strong>. Tartu: Elmatar, 1994, 32 lk.
Kr\u00f5lli v\u00e4rviraamat \u2013 v\u00e4rvi ise!<\/strong> Tartu: Elmatar, 1994, 48 lk.
Kanaema kook<\/strong>. Tallinn: Ramona, 1996, 14 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tormikiri, ?, 14 lk].
Onu \u00d6\u00f6biku \u00f6\u00f6p\u00e4ev<\/strong>. Tallinn: Tiritamm, 1998, 272 lk.
\u00dchel viivul vikervalgel<\/strong>. Tallinn: Tiritamm, 1999, 304 lk.
Pikk p\u00e4kapikup\u00e4ev<\/strong>. Tallinn: Tiritamm, 1999, 36 lk.
Kr\u00f5lli pannkoogitegu<\/strong>. Tartu: Elmatar, 1999, 14 lk.
Kuidas leiti j\u00f5ulupuu<\/strong>. Tallinn: Mixi, 2000, 20 lk; [2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2013, 40 lk].
Kaelasall p\u00e4kapikule<\/strong>. Tallinn: Huma, 2000, 48 lk.
Jakobi raamat<\/strong>. Tallinn: Tiritamm, 2001, 36 lk.
Veel ja veel Kr\u00f5lliga maal ja veel<\/strong>. Tartu: Elmatar, 2002, 80 lk.
Laste laulud<\/strong>. Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus, 2006, 48 lk.
Noorte lehtede p\u00e4ev<\/strong>. Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus, 2008, 54 lk.
M\u00e4nguvesi<\/strong>. Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2013, 344 lk.
Taeva v\u00f5ti<\/strong>. Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2015, 224 lk.
Onu \u00d6\u00f6bik \u00d6\u00f6sori t\u00e4navast.<\/strong> Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2017, 48 lk.
J\u00e4nkujenka<\/strong>. Paide: Kuma, ?, 8 lk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miscellaneous<\/em><\/strong>
Ellen Niit, Jaan Kross, Muld ja marmor<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1968, 199 lk. [Reisikiri. 2. tr\u00fckk, Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2006, 252 lk].<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Poems Short stories Plays About Ellen Niit Ellen Niit (n\u00e9e Ellen Hiob, official name 1949\u20131958 Ellen Niit, from 1958 Ellen Kross, 13 July 1928 \u2013 30 May 2016) was an Estonian children\u2019s writer, poet and translator. Ellen Niit received her …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"parent":653,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-488","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=488"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5374,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/488\/revisions\/5374"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}