Lot #41: Rare 1971 Latvian Diaspora Fiction: IZJURIEŠI by Reinis Kaudzīte (2-Vol Set, Tilts)

Title: Izjurieši (Malienas romāns 2 grāmatās – Volumes I & II) Author: Reinis Kaudzīte (1839–1920) Publisher: Tilta Apgāds (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) Year: 1971 Language: Latvian Cover Design: Ojārs Jēgens Format: Two-volume hardcover set Up for auction is a beautiful, complete two-volume hardcover edition of Izjurieši, written by legendary Latvian literary figure Reinis Kaudzīte. This specific edition was printed in 1971 by the prominent post-war diaspora publisher Tilta Apgāds based in Minneapolis. The mid-century modernist graphic cover and spine styling were designed by the well-known diaspora artist and poet Ojārs Jēgens. Notes of Interest for Collectors • The Author (Reinis Kaudzīte): Reinis Kaudzīte (alongside his brother Matīss) is a foundational pillar of Latvian literature. Together, they authored Mērnieku laiki (The Times of the Surveyors) in 1879, which is universally recognized as the very first novel ever written in the Latvian language. Izjurieši is his unfinished, satirical, and deeply observational masterpiece focusing on the rustic hardships, corruption, and social realities of Latvian peasant life under estate rule in the late 19th century. • The Diaspora Publisher (Tilta Apgāds): Run by Hugo Skrastiņš in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Tilts ("Bridge") was one of the most vital exile publishing houses during the Soviet occupation of Latvia. Books published by Tilts were printed in limited runs primarily for the global Latvian refugee and emigre communities in North America, Australia, and Western Europe. These editions are highly sought after because they represent the preservation of free, uncensored Latvian culture and language during a time of intense iron-curtain censorship. • Linguistic Importance: Written entirely in its native Latvian, this set serves as an important historical artifact tracking the persistence of Baltic literature abroad. Pickup category timeslot {A}