{"id":980,"date":"2024-04-03T23:40:37","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T20:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/lember\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T16:34:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T13:34:14","slug":"lember","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/l\/lember\/","title":{"rendered":"Ira Lember"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stories<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/strong>\"Ira<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ira Lember (until 1935 Gr\u00fcnthal, 1935-1949 Kivik, pseudonym Artur I. Erich; 21 V 1926 \u2013 1 VIII 2025) was a prose writer and children\u2019s author.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was born in Tallinn, studied at the Tallinn French Lyceum and graduated a commodity expert from the School of Cooperative Commerce in Tallinn. She worked as commodity expert in the ETKVL (The State Union of Estonian Consumers Cooperatives) Tallinn goods depot from 1944-1973. In 1974, she became a professional writer. She was a member of the Writers\u2019 Union since 1983 until her death and was the chairwoman of the trade union of the Union from 1984-1990.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning of her writing career, she was mostly known as a children\u2019s writer, debuting with her poems in the newspaper S\u00e4de<\/em> in 1962. Her first novel Jannu<\/i> (1969) and its sequel Koolipoiss Jannu<\/i> (\u2018School Boy Jannu\u2019, 1981) follows a boy through places and situations familiar to children. Jannu is also one of the main characters in the story collection Peeter ja vanaisa<\/i> (\u2018Peeter and Grandfather\u2019, 1977). For teenagers, she authored the science fiction dilogy Fantastiline t\u00fcdruk<\/i> (\u2018Fantastic Girl\u2019, 1994, prize at the Nukits competition by the Estonian Children\u2019s Literature Center in 1996) and Fantastiline poiss<\/i> (\u2018Fantastic Boy\u2019, 1997), the criminal adventure stories Musta kaarna k\u00fc\u00fcsis<\/i> (\u2018In the Grip of the Black Raven\u2019, 1998, prize at the Nukits competition by the Estonian Children\u2019s Literature Center in 2000) and Isehakanud detektiivid <\/i>(\u2018Self-appointed Detectives\u2019, 2001). Serious choices are the focus of the novel N\u00e4itleja vastu tahtmist<\/i> (\u2018Unwilling Actor\u2019, 1995) in which an Estonian boy shelters his Jewish classmate during the German occupation. \u2018Unwilling Actor\u2019 was recognized in a youth and children\u2019s literature competition. The novel Neljateistk\u00fcmnes neljap\u00e4ev<\/i> (\u2018The Fourteenth Thursday\u2019, 1995) follows the life of a boy growing up in an orphanage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Erika Esop and under the pseudonym Artur Erich, she published the story collection Ahvipoeg Mafi seiklused linnas<\/i> (\u2018The Adventures of Mafi the Monkey in the City\u2019, 1998) and the verse story V\u00e4ike Fee<\/i> (\u2018Small Fee\u2019, 1998); for toddlers, the verse stories Hallikirju karvakera<\/i> (\u2018Grey Ball of Fur\u2019) and Kurri-Nurri l\u00e4heb kooli<\/i> (\u2018Purr-Meow Goes to School\u2019, 1999). Lember\u2019s children\u2019s poetry was published in collections Vurrkann <\/i>(\u2018Humming Top\u2019, 1980), Seitsme peaga poiss<\/i> (\u2018The Boy with Seven Heads\u2019, 1982), P\u00f6\u00f6rane kevad<\/i> (\u2018Crazy Spring\u2019, 2005), Prillmadu <\/i>(\u2018Spectacled Cobra\u2019, 2007) and Tuulehobune<\/i> (\u2018Wind Horse\u2019, 2009). Her children\u2019s poetry has also been set to music, a well-known example is Koolikell <\/i>(\u2018School Bell\u2019) with music by Uno Naissoo.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a long time, Lember was mostly known as a children\u2019s and young adult writer, but during the second half of her writing career, she also began writing for adults. The novel series \u00c4ikese varjud <\/i>(\u2018Shadows of Thunder\u2019) focusing on a family\u2019s life, co-written with Erika Esop and under the pseudonym Artur Erich, takes center stage here: \u00c4ike<\/i> (\u2018Thunder\u2019, 1991, third prize in a 1990 novel competition), P\u00e4rast \u00e4ikest<\/i> (\u2018After Thunder\u2019, 1995, A. H. Tammsaare Novel Prize), V\u00e4lgust tabatud<\/i> (\u2018Struck by Lightning\u2019, 1996) and Varjud<\/i> (\u2018Shadows\u2019, 1999). After Esop\u2019s death, she continued under the pseudonym Artur I. Erich and wrote the novels: Varjude allee<\/i> (\u2018Alley of Shadows\u2019, 2002), Enne \u00e4ikest <\/i>(\u2018Before Thunder\u2019, 2007), \u00c4ikese varjud<\/i> (\u2018Shadows of Thunder\u2019, 2012) and Saladuste varjud<\/i> (\u2018Shadows of Secrets, 2019). The main story with its prequels and sequels spans from the final years of the Republic of Estonia to the end of the 19th<\/sup> century to the 1990s, taking place not only in Estonia, but Russia, Germany, and America as well.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The novel dilogy P\u00e4evalilled<\/i> (\u2018Sunflowers\u2019, 2009) and Katariina portree <\/i>(\u2018The Portrait of Katariina, 2010) has a large geographical grasp as well: the reader is transported from 20th<\/sup> century Tallinn to Crimea to the Republic of Estonia in the 1930s. In the trilogy Kummuli kuu<\/i> (\u2018Upside Down Moon\u2019, 2004), Must ratsanik<\/i> (\u2018Black Rider\u2019, 2005) and \u00d6\u00f6viiulid <\/i>(\u2018Night Violins, 2008), the reader is taken to Syria and the Mediterranean coast.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lember is a good storyteller who uses reader-friendly form and language to explore her characters and intertwines the plot with historical events. She gathered inspiration from her own and her family\u2019s life and had an optimistic, positive attitude. Due to her productivity and popularity, she has been compared to the English romantic fiction author Rosamunde Pilcher.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, Ira Lember received the Order of Tallinn and in 2017, the Order of the White Star, V Class.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A. K. (Trqanslated by A. S.)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Books in Estonian<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Novels<\/b><\/em>
Artur Erich, \u00c4ike<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1991, 223 lk. [2. tr\u00fckk: 2008.]
Juba tornid paistavad<\/strong>. Tallinn: Nora, 1994, 111 lk.
Artur Erich, P\u00e4rast \u00e4ikest<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1995, 246 lk. [2. tr\u00fckk: 2008.]
Artur Erich, V\u00e4lgust tabatud<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1996, 214 lk. [2. tr\u00fckk: 2009.]
Kaardimajake<\/strong>. Tallinn: I. Lember, 1998, 143 lk.
Artur Erich, Varjud<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1999, 215 lk. [2. tr\u00fckk: 2009.]
Kevadromanss<\/strong>. Tallinn: I. Lember, 2000, 200 lk.
Artur I. Erich, Varjude allee<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2002, 265 lk. [2. tr\u00fckk: 2010.]
Kummuli kuu<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2004, 196 lk.
Must ratsanik<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2005, 188 lk.
Kohvik p\u00e4rnade all<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2007, 142 lk.
Artur I. Erich, Enne \u00e4ikest<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2007, 223 lk.
\u00d6\u00f6viiulid<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2008, 174 lk.
P\u00e4evalilled<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2009, 331 lk<\/span><\/span><\/span>.
Katariina portree<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2010, 263 lk.
S\u00fcgiscapriccio<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2011, 186 lk.
Artur I. Erich, \u00c4ikese varjud<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2012, 262 lk.
\u00d5de Veera<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2013, 196 lk.
Villa j\u00e4rve \u00e4\u00e4res<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2014, 233 lk.
P\u00e4randus<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2015, 196 lk.
Hea kasvatusega mees<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2016, 184 lk.
Vale nimega mees<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2018, 246 lk.
Elukutse ohver<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2017, 195 lk.
Lavale s\u00fcndinud<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2017, 279 lk.
Artur I. Erich, Saladuste varjud<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2019, 221 lk.
T\u00fctarlaps maalilt<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2020, 167 lk.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
Teine viiul<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2021, 163 lk.
P\u00e4ikesepoiss<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2022, 212 lk.
Peen perekond<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2023, 230 lk.
Valged klaarid<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2024, 172 lk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stories<\/b><\/em>
Daamide valss<\/strong>: jutud. Tallinn: Canopus, 2004, 164 lk.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children\u2019s and young adult literature<\/b><\/em>
Jannu<\/strong>: jutud. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1969, 39 lk. [2. tr\u00fckk: 2010.]
Kurnoss<\/strong>: l\u00fchijutud ja luuletused. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1976, 64 lk.
Peeter ja vanaisa<\/strong>: l\u00fchijutud. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1977, 48 lk.
Vurrkann<\/strong>: luuletused. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1980, 32 lk.
Koolipoiss Jannu<\/strong>. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1981, 47 lk. [2. tr\u00fckk: 2010.]
Peaasi, et pahandusi ei tuleks<\/strong>: jutustusi. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1981, 74 lk.
Seitsme peaga poiss<\/strong>: luuletused. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1982, 32 lk.
\u00dclesk\u00fcntud liivakast<\/strong>: jutustused. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1983, 48 lk.
T\u00e4di Fantaasia<\/strong>: l\u00fchijutud. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1985, 64 lk.
M\u00e4nguiga<\/strong>: jutte ja luuletusi. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1986, 78 lk.
Laps visiitkaardiga<\/strong>: l\u00fchijutud. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1988, 86 lk.
Pott peas<\/strong>. Tallinn: Oktoober, 1992, 38 lk.
Fantastiline t\u00fcdruk<\/strong>: jutustus. Tallinn: Koolibri, 1994, 78 lk.
Koerapolka<\/strong>: jutud. Tallinn: Ilo, 1994, 68 lk.
Kaks \u00f5de<\/strong>: jutud. Tallinn: Kupar, 1995, 126 lk.
Neljateistk\u00fcmnes neljap\u00e4ev<\/strong>: jutustus lastele. Tallinn: Egmont Estonia, 1995, 63 lk.
N\u00e4itleja vastu tahtmist<\/strong>: romaan. Tallinn: Kupar, 1995, 158 lk.
Hull hamburger ja poiss<\/strong>: jutud. Tallinn: Valgus, 1997, 110 lk.
Fantastiline poiss<\/strong>: jutustus. Tallinn: Koolibri, 1997, 79 lk. [2. tr\u00fckk: 2011.]
Artur Erich, Ahvipoiss Mafi seiklused linnas<\/strong>. Kuressaare: Tormikiri, 1998, 50 lk.
Musta kaarna k\u00fc\u00fcsis<\/strong>: jutustus. Tallinn: Perioodika, 1998, 111 lk.
V\u00e4ike Fee<\/strong>: v\u00e4rssjutud. Kuressaare: Tormikiri, 1998, 26 lk.
Artur Erich, Hallikirju karvakera<\/strong>. Kuressaare: Tormikiri, 1999, 11 lk.
Artur Erich, Kurri-Nurri l\u00e4heb kooli<\/strong>. Kuressaare: Tormikiri, 1999, 11 lk.
Isehakanud detektiivid<\/strong>: romaan. Tallinn: I. Lember, 2001, 87 lk.
Hull professor. Nahkvestiga poiss<\/strong>: jutustused. Tallinn: Canopus, 2003, 101 lk.
Seiklus Mississipi \u00e4\u00e4res<\/strong>: jutustus. Tallinn: Canopus, 2003, 128 lk.
Silmapaistev tegelane<\/strong>: l\u00fchijutud. Tallinn: Canopus, 2003, 112 lk.
P\u00f6\u00f6rane kevad<\/strong>: luuletused. Tallinn: Canopus, 2005, 46 lk.
T\u00fcdruk, kes armastas teatrit<\/strong>: jutustus. Tallinn: Canopus, 2005, 120 lk.
V\u00f5rukaelad<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2006, 35 lk.
J\u00f5uluvana postkast<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2007, 71 lk.
Pikk isa<\/strong>: luuletused. Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus, 2007, 37 lk.
Prillmadu<\/strong>. Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus, 2007, 44 lk.
Tuulehobune<\/strong>. Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus, 2009, 45 lk.
Jannupoiss<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2010, 206 lk.
Fantastiline t\u00fcdruk. Fantastiline poiss. Musta kaarna k\u00fc\u00fcsis<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2011, 306 lk.
N\u00f5iajaht koolis<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2011, 100 lk.
T\u00e4di Fantaasia lood<\/strong>. Tartu: Petrone Print, 2016, 94 lk.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memoirs<\/b><\/em>
Vanaema kulds\u00f5rmus<\/strong>. Tallinn: I. Lember, 2001, 159 lk.
Kuldne kaleidoskoop<\/strong>. Tallinn: Canopus, 2006, 360 lk.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stories \u00a0 Ira Lember (until 1935 Gr\u00fcnthal, 1935-1949 Kivik, pseudonym Artur I. Erich; 21 V 1926 \u2013 1 VIII 2025) was a prose writer and children\u2019s author. She was born in Tallinn, studied at the Tallinn French Lyceum and graduated …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"parent":631,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-980","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/980","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=980"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/980\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7482,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/980\/revisions\/7482"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/ewod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}