Lyno akrobatas. Tarp trijų marų

Balthasar Russowi romaan #1-2

by Jaan Kross, Danutė Sirijos Giraitė (Translator)

XVI a. Talinas. Smalsus berniūkštis Baltazaras, arba Palas, kaip jį vadina aplinkiniai, nepaklusęs mokytojui įsilipa į bažnyčios varpinę ir apstulbęs stebi paslaptinguosius lyno šokėjus, ore išdarinėjančius neįtikėtinus dalykus. Taip prasideda didžio Livonijos metraštininko Baltazaro Rusovo gyvenimo istorija.

Kuklių valstietiškų šaknų jaunuolis – tarsi netašytas deimantas: padūkęs, nutrūktgalviškai drąsus, išmintingas, aštraus proto ir gabus mokslams, ypač kalboms. Įvaldęs vokiečių ir lotynų, jis suvokia galįs padėti saviškiams estų valstiečiams ir atsidūręs tinkamu laiku, tinkamoj vietoj – pasitarnauti įtakingiems vokiečių didikams, gal net karaliams.

Virš Livonijos kaupiantis karo nuojautoms, plaukiančioms iš Rusijos, Švedijos, Lenkijos ir Lietuvos, atsargiai laviruodamas, Baltazaras ima kopti slidžiomis visuomenės pakopomis. Tačiau niekada neužmiršta savo tikrųjų šaknų ir neišsižada žmogiškų ir kūniškų aistrų.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Classics, 20th Century, Biographical Fiction

576 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Jaan Kross (1920 – 2007) was an Estonian writer. He has been tipped for the Nobel Prize for Literature on several occasions for his novels, but did in fact start his literary career as a poet and translator of poetry. On his return from the labour camps and internal exile in Russia, where he spent the years 1946-1954 as a political prisoner, Kross renewed Estonian poetry, giving it new directions.

Kross began writing prose in the latter half of the 1960s, first with a film scenario "A Livonian Chronicle" (Liivimaa kroonika) which dealt with the life of the author Balthasar Russow (1536-1600) and which also became the subject of his first masterpiece "Between Three Plagues" (Kolme katku vahel, 1970), a suit of four novels. From that time onwards Kross moved by stage nearer to our present time in history, describing figures from Estonian history, first in short stories and novellæ, later in novels, also in writings where he has drawn upon his own experiences. The heroes of his novels tend to be of Estonian or Baltic German origin and cultured people, though on the margins of society and are usually faced with a moral dilemma of some sort.

Reviews

[Jurgita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nuostabus vertimas. Aš tik galiu įsivaizduoti, kiek reikėjo įdėti darbo verčiant, kad išlaikyti rašytojo stilių, teksto skambesį, kokio platumo turėjo būti vertėjos žodynas, kad tie nuostabūs lietuviški žodžiai (nemažai jų sutikau pirmą kartą) šitaip derėtų prie teksto ir konteksto. Knygą perskaičiau iki galo tik dėl vertėjos talento ir lietuvių kalbos grožio, nes pati istorija manęs neužkabino. Buvo ištęsta, su labai mažai dialogų, pilna varginančių, smulkmeniškų, be galo ilgų kiekvieno niekniekio aprašymų.
Tad nepaisant viso vertėjos talento, trečios dalies tikrai neskaitysiu.

[Dar vieną puslapį · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jaan Kross - estų klasikas, daugkartinis Nobelio premijos nominantas ir vienas svarbiusių XXa estų rašytojų. Svarbus dar ir tuo, kad okupacijos metais savo kūriniams pasirinkdavo estų kilmės veikėjus ir jų žygdarbiais žadino bei kėlė tautinio pasididžiavimo jausmą. Jam tas puikiai sekėsi.

“Lino akrobatas” nukelia skaitytoją į XVIa Taliną, kur veikia visiškai paprastos kilmės vaikinukas Baltazaras. Vaikinas pasižymi itin skvarbiu protu bei gabumu kalboms, tad nieko keisto, kad sparčiai kyla socialiniai laipteliais į viršų ir apsupa save vis svarbesnių žmonių kompanija. Knygos anotacija išduoda, kad galiausiai Baltazaras taps Livonijos metraštininku, o tai jau šis tas valstietiškų šaknų jaunam vyrui. Viskas būtų gerai, bet artėja Livonijos karas. Įtampa kyla.

Ši knyga gerokai išsiskyrė tarp pastaruoju metu mano skaitytų knygų. Tarp visų modernybių, ieškojimų, o kartais net literatūrinių eksperimentų “Lyno akrobatas” mane nukėlė į vaikystę, kai močiutės verandoje rydavau vieną klasikų knygą po kitos. Autoriui puikiai sekasi panardinti skaitytoją į senuosius XVIa laikus, apšviestus lengvu žvakės plevenimu, keliaujama arkliais, o pati pasakojimo kalba sodri ir alsuojanti istorija. Šiek tiek priminė Hugo, Dickenso pasakojimo manierą. Labai labai jauku.

Privalau pasakyti dar vieną dalyką - vertimas ne tai kad puikus, jis tobulas. Danutė Sirijos Giraitė atliko puikų darbą. Jau ir taip graži lietuvių kalba sužibėjo naujom spalvom. Tiek naujų žodžių, kurie net negirdėti, bet neišsigąskit - tai neapsinkina skaitymo, nes iš konteksto puikiai supranti reikšmes. Žodžiu, ši knyga - puiki galimybė pajausti ką reiškia geras vertėjo darbas.

Įsigyventi į knygą labai lengva: pyksti ant pagrindinio veikėjo, kai jis elgiasi kvailai, sergi už jį pavojaus minutėmis ir tt. Silpniau autoriui sekėsi konstruoti moterų portretus. Vienas jų, Katarina, prikausto dėmesį savo nestandartiniu elgesiu, bet knygos pabaigoje tas jos unikalumas paleidžiamas pavėjui. Šiek tiek gaila.

Kam skaityti? Sodrių istoriniame kontekste konstruotų pasakojimų mylėtojams tikrai patiks. Gero skaitymo.

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[Alan (the Lone Librarian on film festival hiatus) Teder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balthasar Begins.
Review of the English translation hardcover (2016) of the Estonian language original Kolme katku vahel, I-II (Balthasar Russowi romaan, #1-2) (1970-72)

“The Ropewalker” is Volume 1 of a 3-volume English translation of Jaan Kross’s Estonian-language “Kolme katku vahel. Balthasar Russowi romaan, I-IV” (Between Three Plagues. Balthasar Russow's Novel, I-IV) (1970-80) by Merike Lepasaar Beecher. “Kolme katku vahel” was actually issued as 4 books in its original printings but many subsequent editions, including this translation, have elected to combine the shorter Books I and II as Volume 1. Volume 2: A People without a Past (original Book III) will be published in 2017 and Volume 3: A Book of Falsehoods (original Book IV) will complete the trilogy in 2018. The volume titles have been added for the English translation.

“Between Three Plagues" was the first novel and magnum opus of Jaan Kross (1920-2007) who had been primarily known as a poet and translator (of Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, Aldous Huxley etc.) in his native Estonia after his 1954 return from the Gulag after serving an 8-year sentence for anti-Soviet activities. It became the template for many of his subsequent historical-based works which featured Estonian-associated protagonists making their careers while compromising and living their lives under the rule of foreign regimes. As such, they were proxies for the Estonian people as a whole. Previous English translations have featured the characters of Timotheus von Bock (1787-1836) (in The Czar's Madman), Friedrich Martens (1845-1909) (in Professor Martens' Departure), Bernhard Schmidt (1879-1935) (in Sailing Against the Wind: A Novel) and the Jaan Kross-proxy character of Peeter Mirk (in The Conspiracy and Other Stories, also in the untranslated Väljakaevamised (Excavations)).

The English translation marketing for the Balthasar Russow trilogy is comparing it to Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell in the Wolf Hall Trilogy. There are certainly parallels in that both historical characters were born of lowly origins and both came to be advisors and confidantes of leaders and rulers even if Russow’s are not quite on the same world-stage level of Cromwell’s Henry the VIIIth.

Balthasar (Bal) Russow (1536-1600) was born into an Estonian commoner family and was the son of a wagoneer. This was a time when the area of Livonia (present day Estonia and Northern Latvia) was under Germanic rule through the Teutonic Knights and German landholders. Unlike most commoners he had a schooling in the Hanseatic City of Reval (present day Tallinn) and was mentored by his brother-in-law and had a further schooling in Stettin (Szczecin in present day Poland) before returning to Livonia to become the Estonian language Lutheran pastor of the Church of the Holy Ghost in Reval and writing his Liivimaa kroonika (Chronicle of the Province of Livonia) (1577, 2nd edition 1584) which covered the history of Livonia from 1185 to 1583. It was popular in its day due to its readability and down-to-earth reportage of the foibles of both the ruling class and the peasants. It is one of the sources for the story that the first Christmas trees originated in Estonia (in seasonal celebrations by the Guild of the Brotherhood of Blackheads).

“The Ropewalker” mostly tells Bal’s schoolday origin story from 1546 at the age of 10 to his return to Estonia from abroad in 1562 at the age of 26. The introductory chapters let us see his inquisitive nature when he plays truant from school to attempt to discover the secrets of a troupe of Italian tightrope artists (i.e. ropewalkers) entertaining the town crowds in Reval and his adeptness with languages and other school subjects by which he impresses the young schoolmaster Frolink Meus who also finds a wife in Baltasar’s older sister Annika. The tightrope walkers also provide the source of the Volume title as well as being a simile for Balthasar's future life where he will figuratively walk a tightrope with his life among the educated and ruling classes while clinging to his peasant roots. Bal finds further mentors along the way and has his first schoolboy crush with a village girl named Epp and his first adult affair with the bewitching wife of his erstwhile mentor Doctor Friesner. His encounters with nobility and some of the best passages in the book range from a midnight icebound sleigh-ride mission to Johan, Duke of Finland (1537-1592) [later King Johan III of Sweden] to report on the Muscovy invasion of Livonia in 1558 to being a secret advisor and representative of the Peasant King in the Estonian Peasant Uprising of 1560. Along the way he is always grounded by his family and his childhood Estonian friend Märten whose possibilities are not as expansive as Bal's. Having Books 1 and 2 in Volume 1 also allows a nice framing device as Book 1 Chapter 1 starts in the tower of St. Olaf's Church in Tallinn and Book 2 Chapter 7 mostly ends in the tower of St. Ansgarius Church in Bremen. Jaan Kross uses the few known facts of Russow’s real-life, the latter's and other’s Livonian Chronicles, histories and his own novelist imagination to immerse us in an entire Mediaeval world of epic Tolstoyan proportions.

Merike Lepasaar Beecher has done a superb job in making Kross’s often elaborate Estonian (the synoptic chapter headings are often harder to understand than the chapters they are meant to introduce) with his penchant for run-on sentences to be entirely readable. Excellent notes*, historical biographies** and explanations of archaic weights and Estonian place-names make this a very reader friendly introduction to a world that is still somewhat viewable in the present-day preserved Old City of Tallinn. I am eagerly looking forward to reading Volumes 2 and 3***.

Stray Observations
• Here is a teaser for the future volumes of "Between Three Plagues" at the Estonian Literature Centre website. Adam Cullen has translated a segment where Russow has completed his Livonian Chronicle at http://www.estlit.ee/elis/?cmd=writer...
• As mentioned by the character Herr Sum (pg. 511) “Balthasar” means “Baal protects the king.” You can take the name “Baal” to mean “God” or “Lord”. The history of the name is interesting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balthaz...
• Occasional plague deaths are reported during the course of the book, but there aren't any markers that frame the story between any specific plague epidemics. The "plagues" of the title are more likely to be symbolic of the main opposing ruling forces seeking to dominate Livonia which, based on the Volume 1 activities are the Teutonic Order of Knights & associated Germanic landholders, the Swedish Empire (which included Finland at the time) and the growing Muscovy Empire of Ivan the Terrible.

* Further Notes (re: Appendix 1)

pg. 260 “...my little Kratt…” The doctor calling his wife Katharina by the nickname of Kratt is not a typo. It is the Estonian word for a treasure-hunting goblin.

** Further Selected Historical Figures (re: Appendix 2)
[I looked these up via English, Estonian and Russian language Wikipedia if anyone else is interested in these further historical figures that appear in or are mentioned in the book but for whom a note in the book wasn't included.]

Aleksei Danilovich Basmanov, Voivode of Narva/Ivangorod (c1514-1570). Voivode is Old Slavic for Warlord. Alexei Basmanov was one of the originators of Ivan the Terrible’s personal guard/secret police enforcement group/policy Oprichnina which he boasts about in “The Ropewalker". He was executed after falling out of favour with Ivan.

Fedor Alekseyevich Basmanov (c1545-1571) son of Aleksei Danilovich Basmanov. Later alleged lover of Ivan the Terrible. Exiled after his family fell out of favour. Trivia Note: in the film “Ivan the Terrible” by Sergei Eisenstein, Fedor Basmanov performs a dance for the Tsar.

Ivan IV aka Ivan the Terrible aka The Muscovite (1530-1584). Grand Duke aka Grand Prince of Muscovy from 1533 to 1547, afterwards crowned Tsar. In an attempt to gain access to the Baltic Sea and its major trade routes, Ivan IV began the Livonian War (1558-1583) versus the Swedish Empire, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Teutonic Knights of Livonia.

Shighali aka Shahghali, Khan of Astrakhan (1505 - 1567). Ally of Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) and the leader of the Russian advance forces at the beginning of the Livonian War (1558-1583).

*** Typos (in case anyone from MacLehose Press is reading this and would like a free proofreader for Volumes 2 and 3 ;) :

pg. 200 Book 1 Chapter 7 “Annnika” s/b “Annika"
pg. 208 Book 1 Chapter 7 “…Bal now dared once more glance…” s/b “…Bal now dared one more glance…"
pg. 371 Book 2 Chapter 3 “Tisehhusen” s/b “Tisenhusen”
pg. 438 Book 2 Chapter 5 “...had he not been not known for his nearsightedness.” s/b “...had he not been known for his nearsightedness.”
pg. 484 Book 2 Chapter 6 “…looked greedily over their shoulder sat him.” s/b “…looked greedily over their shoulders at him."

August 4, 2017 Update: Volume 2 "A People Without a Past" due August 24, 2017
https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/books/...

December 24, 2016 Update: Further to my mention of Balthasar Russow in 1584 writing about ceremonial decorated trees burned by the merchant guilds in Tallinn, Estonia in 1441, 1442 & 1514 and Riga, Latvia in 1510 which have been subsequently tagged as ur-Christmas Trees by later historians, this recent article is probably more correct: http://www.npr.org/2016/12/23/5067590...
The guild's tree rituals seem more pagan-like i.e. burning the tree while dancing around it.

[Pavle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kako sam se nekim slučajem našao na studijama u Estoniji, odlučih da malo gvirnem u njihovu književnost, te tako nabasah na ovo. Istorijska fikcija (u kojoj meri fikcija, to ne znam, ali meni deluje u pozamašnoj), koja je u blurbu upoređena sa Wolf Hall-om, nadaleko poznatom, Buker priznatom, i BBC adaptiranom – ali u verziji jednog „malog naroda“,.

I, kako se poredi? Pa, i ne baš. Wolf Hall, iako ga ne dovrših usled manjka pažnje i neodgovarajuće forme (čitao sam knjigu tako što sam je slušao, što nije baš najzahvalnija opcija za složenu, nelinearnu prozu Mantelove), dosta je drugačije delo od ovog koje je Kroos napisao. Mantelova je samokritična – Kros je patriota; Tomas Kromvel je opasan čovek, ne nužno „dobar“ – Baltazar Ruso je vunderkind čija jedina mana je to što je tako u svemu dobar, a vremena i mogućnosti tek toliko. Ajde sve to i da ostavimo po strani – ne kažem da književnost kao takva ne sme biti patriotska po sentimentu, ali Krosovo delo sebi samozadaje šahmat jer je, pa, dosadno. Toliko dosadno da ga jedva dovrših.

Mogu jedino reći da mi je roman više bio interesantan za razmišljanje iz te meta perspektive, zašto je ok reći da su britanci bagra, ali ne i estonci, i šta to znači za nas srbe, a time i mene, koji jedva čekam da kažem da smo rupa bez dna, koji jedva čekam da nam stanem u odbranu kad god nas se ovde preko neko dohvati.

2+

[Ingrida Lisauskiene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mėgstantiems istorinius romanus, šis estų rašytojo istorinis romanas yra puikus radinys. Yra istorinių laikotarpių ir asmenybių, apie kuriuos dažnai rašomos istorinės knygos. tai nereiškia, kad jos yra neįdomios. Šiuo atveju man mažai žinoma Estijos istorijos atkarpa buvi labai įdomi - XVI a. Talinas, Livonijos kronikos raštininko Baltazaro Rusovo gyvenimo tarpsnio aprašymas. Gal tik mirties bausmės vykdyumo aprašas per daug žiaurus ir vaizdingai aprašytas - deja, tuos puslpius tiesiog praleidau.

[Lita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Balthasar Russow has a unique talent for being in the right place at the right time (if you want to witness the stuff of the history books). In this first volume of Jaan Kross' trilogy, we get to follow Balthasar's coming-of-age story that is in no way lacking in adventure and significant historical events. Look no further if you're interested in a truly engaging historical novel about Livonia. 

[Kieran German · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is a vividly told and compelling story, set primarily in Tallinn and evocative of post-Reformation northern-Europe. There is such tangible depth and purpose to this novel which is both obvious, but never takes centre-stage away from the story of Balthasar Russow and the Livonians of the sixteenth century. At one point, when the author's rubric of using the past to criticise Estonia's coeval Soviet masters began to glimmer through the prose, I was literally punching the air with delight. This novel oozes its time and place. Tallinn is a character in itself: In Kimmelpenning's underground store in the medieval city you can see the bone pins and run your hand across the furs; through Balthasar's pigskin window you can see the huddled bodies cross the ice-cold town hall square; in the town hall itself you can see the vested burghers huddled in discussion.

It's also superbly well-written. The opening gambit is a classic set-piece: "Hurry, hurry, hurry! You will see wonders you have never seen before, and will never, in your lifetime, see again!" the early-modern town-crier calls and there follows a short story of two ropewalkers who dance in the sky on a tight-rope suspended above Tallinn. They are watched from within St Olaf's Tower by a young man, our hero, Balthasar, who somehow imbibes their magic potion, which sets him off on his own life journey with the sense of being blessed and capable. The supernatural finds its way into this novel occasionally, but never too much, and in a way that is consistent with its historical setting and adds to the atmosphere and beliefs of its world.

The novel is a critique of the Soviet occupation of Estonia, written during that time. The need to circumvent the Soviet censors meant Kross wrote an historical allegory instead, and in so doing we have an insight into two different eras of the Estonian past; the Russian, German, Swedish, Finnish influence thereupon; and the struggle of Livonian peasantry. It is a fascinating and educational insight which readily switches from birds-eye to street-view. Balthasar is like Chris Guthrie, a character caught between the values and empathy for his peasant kin and the experience of the wider world brought by education. Kross is an author of skill and scope.

Unfortunately there is a deep and serious flaw, in that Kross could not, or would not, write female characters. Annika, Bal's sister, starts the novel as a questioning, aspirational figure and a mentor to Bal, but upon getting married she fades from view and her husband takes on that role of mentorship. Epp , the peasant girl is little more than an allegorical tool of the novel. And finally Katharina, who is by far the most considerably drawn of the three female characters (there really are only three significant female characters), has intelligence as well as beauty, but although she writes letters as an envoy and strategises in the defence of Tallinn (and Estonia) against the invading Muscovites it is, in the end, her sex that is shown to be her most useful weapon. Maybe I am being unfair to Kross, perhaps Katharina would have been used in the ways she was portrayed; yet the arc of her relationship with Bal, and particularly it's peak, suggests otherwise.

The writing of female characters is a problem, undeniably. I would have given this novel five stars. I hope that the second and third volumes see an improvement on this front, as I am compelled to continue with the trilogy. It's evocation of Estonia, the character of Balthasar (chiefly) and the skill of Kross' prose are a rare treat.

[Justė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Livonijos metraštis

Galvodama apie Latviją ir Estiją kaip bendro likimo seseris dažnai neprisimenu, kad jų viduramžių istorija labai skiriasi nuo mūsų ir pastaruoju metu patraukė daugiau joje pamaklinėti. Būtent apie jas ilgai vienijusią Livoniją yra estų rašytojo serija `‘Tarp trijų marų’ ir jos pirmoji knyga ‘Lyno akrobatas’, pasakojančios apie Livonijos istoriją per vienos tikros asmenybės gyvenimą.

Imdama šią knygą tikėjausi audringo nuotykių romano kiek kitokioje aplinkoje nei įprasta, bet deja nors nuotykių būta, man jie paskendo aplinkos ir žmonių aprašymuose bei vietų ir vardų vardinimuose. Labai daug koncentruotasi į tai, kur juda rusų kariuomenė, bet tatai tikrai sunku sugaudyti ne vietiniam skaitytojui. Daug kalbama apie įvairius oficialius ir povandeninius hercogų, rotušės tarėjų ir panašių veikėjų santykius, kurių daug tai ir tai sekti man sekėsi sunkiai. Pats Baltazaras Rusovas, apie kurio gyvenimą ir sukasi romanas, irgi apsirodė prėskokas, nesupratau beveik nei vieno jo pasirinkimo, man sunku buvo jį palaikyti.

Sunku man buvo skaityti ir pamėgti šitą tikrai epinį kūrinį. Džiaugiuosi, kad estai tai turi jau nuo 1970-ųjų - jiems turbūt ši knyga skaitosi visai kitaip nei man ir jiems lengviau suvokti vietoves, mėgautis jų aprašymais ir gilintis į mažiausias istorines detales. Mums kažką panašaus kalibro padovanojo ‘Silva Rerum’ jau gerokai vėliau ir toks būdas pasakoti istoriją man priimtinesnis ir vargu ar vien dėl to, kad istorija artimesnė ir labiau pažįstama.

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

One star docked because of how often I wanted to yell at and shake Bal for his poor decisions, and another docked because Kross does not write women well at all.

That being said, it was still an enjoyable read, with a lot of historical insights on the relationships between Estonian peasants and their German feudal lords, which lasted until as recently as the early 1900s. I would recommend having at least some historical knowledge of Estonia and Livonia before reading this book, in order to fully appreciate the events and motivating factors of the plot.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ropewalker is the first in a trilogy of historical fiction set in 16th century Estonia, and the main character is Balthasar Russow, a Livonian chronicler. Livonia at the time was contested by the Russians, Poles, Lithuanians and Swedes. Russow always seemed to be at the place at the right time during this turbulent time in Estonia.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of Tallinn and the countryside.

[Dalius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pažintis su garsiuoju estų rašytoju buvo sunki. Nuo pirmųjų minučių pajutau, kad dalis sakinių yra gremėzdiški. Skaitant buvo nesunku pamesti mintį dėl nesibaigiančių pastraipų. Galiausiai, žodžiai, toks jausmas, kad per jėgą sudėti vienas šalia kito, tarsi du vienodi poliai, stūmė save vienas nuo kito. Tai vertė dirbti. Bet galiausiai knygą, o gal užsispyrimas pramušė - pripratau ir įnikau į 16 amžiaus pasaulį.
Mano akimis, knygos stiprybė yra puikiai atskleistas tuometė pasaulėžiūra. Skaitytojas gali nesunkiai įsijausti į įvairių luomų gyvenimo ypatumus ir subtilybes, nardant nuo kasdienių vargų iki politinių užmačių. Kartu su pagrindiniu veikėju gyvenant jo gyvenimą ir patiriant jausmus, atsiduriame gerai aprašytame 3D pasaulyje. Galime justi baimę ir religijos pančius, galime matyti neteisybę. Galime džiaugtis, nekęsti, mokytis.
Stiprus kūrinys. Skaitysiu antrąją knygą. Jausiu baltų gyvenimą.

[Ruth Harwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story, though I have to admit it took a while for me to get to grips - this is an excellent translation of a book written in 70s Estonia, as faithful, I hope, to the original that the translator could get! The story is good, taking us from Tallinn and a young boy climbing a steeple to watch rope walkers, all the way to a young man returning to his home town after adventures the length and breadth of Germany among other places, in amongst the turmoil of Christianity's revolution, the writings of Luther in living memory, his followers carrying the flames, and splitting the hairs of whether bread and wine can literally be the blood and body of Christ, a kinda mute point to me, but an interesting and theological debate raging in heated debate in the northern European countries.
To make your way in an endless stream of vipers and sheep and their shepherds would be hard. The character does this with accomplishment and finesse. Well written, this is written at a time of intense scrutiny and censorship, and I do advise reading the preface, which gives an account of the author and his times (as a child raised far from the area and later in the 20th century, I know little of the times this was written in the Eastern Block, and the constraints therein), after 50 years, it's likely this short history and explanation would help readers to see another level in the story that is worth at least a glance to gain knowledge and understanding of the author's reasoning for language used and the choice of genre - the censorship was less intense for historical works than for contemporary ones!
The main attraction to reading this was the fact that it's not an English book, not written from an English stand-point, and in that it has delivered. It may be European, but a small country in the eastern portion of Europe, this is a rare and unusual book, something worth reading simply for that reason! Who needs to stick to historical fiction written in the large countries when the smaller ones produce gold like this?

[Vilija|Knygų Puslapiuose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaan Kross "Lyno akrobatas. Tarp trijų marų"

Ar jums taip būna, jog pamatote knygą ir suvokiate, kad jos jums reikia? Tiesiog dabar. Man taip nutiko su šia knyga. Ją pamačiau Vilniaus knygų mugės metu ir supratau, kad noriu. Kas labiausiai skatino pirkti šią knygą? Ji buvo apie Estiją. O apie šią Baltijos šalį aš nieko nežinau. Sužinoti daugiau kviečia didis estų rašytojas Jan Kross.

XVI a. Talinas. Vaikinukas vardu Baltazaras, o draugams tiesiog Palas paslapčia stebi lyno akrobatus. Jis nesuvokia kaip jie kuria tokią magiją, bet jų sukurtas įspūdis liks visam gyvenimui. Taip prasideda didžio Livonijos metraštininko Baltazaro Rusovo gyvenimo istorija. Knygoje susipažįstame su jaunuoliu, kuriam netrūksta drąsos, ryžto, gudrumo bei noro pasiekti kažko daugiau. Baltazaras talentingas, ypač kalboms ir tai jam atveria ne vienas duris gyvenime. Tačiau pati svarbiausia vaikinuko savybė, jis visad lieka ištikimas savo prigimčiai ir tautai. Skaitydami šią istoriją visad išlieka suvokimas, kad Palas ne vokietis, o estas.

Jaan Kross Baltazaras žmogiškas, klystantis, jaučiantis ir išgyvenantis. Nors rašytojas pasakoja savo šalies istoriją nepamiršta ir jaunojo savo herojaus. Verčiant knygos puslapius daug sužinome apie jaunojo metraštininko gyvenimą ir pasirinkimus.

Jeigu tikitės greitos, smagios istorijos, teks jus nuvilti. Šis romanas skaitosi gana lėtai, įvykių nemažai, tenka daug domėtis beskaitant, tačiau skaityti labai verta. Jaan Kross leidžia pajausti pasididžiavimą baltiškąja istorija, kuri yra tiesiog neatsiejama nuo mūsų šalies istorijos.

Knygoje atsiskleidžia daug vokiškos kultūros, šalia žengia estų istorija ir šios šalies savimonės užuomazgos. Lėtai versdami knygos puslapius susipažinsite su tuometiniais istorijos įvykiais, kuriuose svarbų vaidmenį atliko ir Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė. Tai daugiasluoksnis, įvairialypis ir itin gilus istorinis romanas, kuris patiks besidomintiems istorija.

[Alan (the Lone Librarian on film festival hiatus) Teder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lugesin uuesti Kolme katku vahel I-II ettevalmistamisel lugeda uut inglise keele tõlget The Ropewalker.

Reread Between Three Plagues I+II in advance of reading the new english language translation The Ropewalker.

[Øystein Brekke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the concept of historical novels, and as a consequence, I dislike most historical novels, because I get so disappointed. But this one didn't disappoint me. The comparison with Wolf Hall is easily understandable: More or less the same period, and a detailed and thoroughly convincing description of an important historical character - both the dramatic episodes of his life and his everyday life - and a thoroughly convincing description of the society in which he lives.

As I, and most readers (probably even within Estonia) know very little of 16th century Livonia, this is almost like reading a fantasy novel, where the world building is an important part of the book. Of course, the author has the advantage that the world he is revealing to us, actually existed. But anyway, the world building is very skilfully done. I really feel immersed in this world, and I care about what happens to the characters.

A common annoyance in historical novels is that the main character is basically a thoroughly modern 21st century person transplanted into a fictional past. I think Kross pretty much avoids this trap - although avoiding it totally is impossible, in that we all view the past through the lens of our present. In Kross' present, Estonia was under foreign occupation, and it is hard not to see the historical parallels to the events of the book.

All in all a very enjoyable read, and I will definitely pick up the next in the trilogy.

On a final note, this is the first time I can remember ever being annoyed about the print in a book. I read the Maclehose Press edition, and it is horrible - like it was printed on an old computer printer that was about to run out of ink.

[Ratko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ово је први део трокњижја (у оригиналу четворокњижја) "Између три куге". Класик естонске књижевности.
Средишњи лик је Балтазар Русов, естонски средњовековни историчар/хроничар, који је био значајан за пробуђивање естонске националне свести. У овом, првом, делу писац се бави његовим детињством и младошћу, па се у једном делу може читати и као својеврсни билдунгсроман. У појединим сегментима превише наивно и романтичарски, али ипак и занимљиво, поготово ако вас занимају историјска дешавања на северу Европе у средњем веку.

[Drew Yerkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical fiction about Estonia in the 1500s.

[Achyuth Sanjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being a history buff, I had never read any historical fiction before this book. I picked this up based on the recommendation of an Estonian friend before a vacation through the Baltics, to understand the history of the region and specifically Estonia and Tallinn.

The book is a tome and I found his writing style inscrutable at places. But overall I loved it for its immersiveness, as I was able to very vividly imagine what the day to day life in 16th century Europe (and specifically Livonia) was like, the social dynamics between the peasants, the urban gentry and the nobility, and so on. It is exactly the kind of detail that is missing in most non-fiction history books which tends to provide a top-down view of the key personalities during an era, the decisions they made, the battles they fought - as opposed to a "from the trenches" view of what those decisions and battles meant for the regular folk. And all this is built around a strong narrative following the protagonist Balthasar Russow (a real-life 16th c. Estonian chronicler) which could very easily be the arc of a couple of seasons of a fantasy TV show. It's amazing how the author has managed to weave such an epic story while staying true historically, I think this quote captures it best - "Take, for example, that old Roman dance, which was executed among swords set upright, their hilts fastened to the floor. The imagination of a novelist writing historical fiction has to dance a similar dance among the swords of the facts set into the floor of history. And the author must perform his dance - be he Clio's half-sister of half-brother - without getting bloodied by the swords... I think this book is a mighty good dance performance by Jan Kross.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in European history and/or the genre of historical fiction, and looking for something beyond the many books you can find on English, French and Italian history.

[Kristjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kui Sinu kogemus Balthasar Russowiga jääb "Tujurikkuja" sketši juurde ("Ma mõtlesin, et ma olen nüüd Balthasarile kaussi pannud!"), siis lisab Jaan Krossi "Kolme katku vahel" sellele mitme meetri paksuse intellektuaalse kihi peale. Hea küll, palju kirja pandut on kirjaniku väljamõeldis, kuid tegevus toimub päriselt ajaloos aset leidnud sündmuste taustal.

Samuti tekitab Kross oma miljöö, tegelaste, tunnete ja ajastu kirjeldustega kohalolekutunde, mis viib lugeja pimedasse keskaega, kus Musta Katku kõrval ohustas inimelu turvatunde puudumine ja kõige olulisemana sisemine dilemma oma elu valikute üle.

Mulle meeldib raamatuid lugeda pilguga, mis otsib ridade vahelt seoseid kaasajaga. Neid on selles teoses palju. Kadakasakslus ei pärine mitte üle-eelmisest, eelmisest või sellest sajandist, vaid oli omane ka keskajale. Põhimõte "Kes maksab, see tellib muusika" kehtib samuti juba pikemat aega - kui Russowi kroonikakirjutamise propagandaks pööramise soovi võib selle põhimõtte näiteks pidada.

Samamoodi ajatud on inimsuhted. Inimene võib ju sotsiaalne olend olla, kuid introvertne loomus, mis paljudele hingedele külge kinnitatud on, ei lase sellel sotsiaalsusel avalduda. Minu lemmiktegelane oli Märten, kes olemuselt jättis väga introvertse mulje, sest töö vajab tegemist ja elu elamist. Kui aga oli vaja öelda või teha, olid tagajärjed väga konkreetsed.

Kokkuvõttes nautisin teose kihilisust väga. Väide, et romaani tuhande lehekülje kirjutamiseks kulus sama palju päevi tundub keelekasutust vaadates usutavana. Loodaks, et paljud teoses kasutatud hunnitud sõnad leiavad kasutust ka minu sõnavaras, ilma et need mõjuksid kunnatuna.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant to take this on especially with its mixed reviews but overall really enjoyed reading it -- especially as I was in Tallinn while reading it, so I recommend this book for any visitors to that medieval city! The best parts are its evocations of different historical moments, figures, settings, and especially cities. A lot of the characters are fun too. I liked the first book more than the second, though maybe I was losing steam, but found much of the peasant uprising stuff unfortunately pretty boring. And as of others have said, the writing of women is atrocious. It's not just that they all breast boobily (which they do) but really just seem like odd non-people who don't even talk normally. I'll take a break before the second volume but overall I'm just in awe that Kross was able to do so much research and imagining to put together this story, in Soviet Estonia in the 1970s no less.

[Kaskaityti.Lt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Čia nepralėksi akimis per porą vakarų. Tekstu mėgaujiesi, nesvarbu, kad skaitai ne originalo kalba. Ta visa senovinė atmosfera greitai įsiurbia ir labai nesunkiai nukelia beveik pusę tūkstantmečio atgal, į Livoniją, į tų laikų gyvenimą. Labai priminė kažkada skaitytus Matininkų laikus. Bet šalis ir laikas ne tas. Čia XVI a., Talinas. Lyno akrobato istorija prasideda paprasto berniūkščio Palo gyvenimu ir įspūdžiais. O tai didžiulis pliusas – įdomu skaityti apie žmones nuo pat jų mažų dienų. Metai bėga, Talino gatvėmis vaikštinėja jau jaunuolis Palas ir stebėtinai sugeba visur įsivelti. Kur reikia, ir kur nelabai. O čia, kur buvus, kur nebuvus, jau ir pirmoji meilė…
https://kaskaityti.wordpress.com/2020...

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Visi jie būtų buvę vis dėlto...Nuo Mozės iki Evangelijos vis dėlto... Vis baisesni vis dėlto, nes Mozė tik pasakė: "Nežudyk", o Jėzus moko: "jeigu tau suduoda į kairį skruostą, atsuk dešinį". Tačiau visi Senojo Testamento Viešpaties įsakymu vykdyti karai ir visos šių laikų palaimintos ir prakeiktos žudynės - kas gi tai? Praraja tarp žodžių ir veiksmų, praraja žodžiuose ir veiksmuose..."

[Fiona Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's my review of the whole trilogy for the European Literature Network's #Riveting Reviews: http://www.eurolitnetwork.com/rivetin...

[Ramunas Fetingis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sakyčiau atradimas. Nors tema rodytųsi sunkoka o ir apie viduramžius nesu mėgėjas skaityti, "susiskaitė" labai lengvai
Ir ta viduramžių gyvenimo autentika įdomiai pavaizduita. Tiek miesto tiek kaimo, turtuolių, vargšų. Atrodo lyg autorius būtų gyvenęs tuo laiku. SUPER!

[Mait Mandri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jätkuvalt üks mu lemmikuid. Krossi mõnusalt ladus ja kaasahaarav jutustamisoskus viib sind ajas tagasi keskaegsesse olustikku. On põnevust, intriige ja võimalust kaasalüüa omaaegse Eesti ja Liivimaa võimumängudes.

[Stan Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Briljant book, Kross is so well-informed that it feels like your are there, in Talinn, in the amazing events in the 16th centrury. One of my favourites.

[Vittoria Ecclesia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good, but it took me forever.

[Bengt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply amazing. The best epic story I have ever read. I am beyond words to describe it, other than the translation was so good that I savored every sentence and wished the story would never end.

[Hettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned who Jaan Kross is when I visited Tallinn last January, and saw his sculpture on one of the Old Town streets. I wanted to find out who this person is, and I learned that he lived in Estonia all his life, including the years of Soviet and German occupation. And during all this time, he has been writing historical novels. He was very popular, and for some reason, he was never prosecuted, and his books were regularly published. At the same time, he continued to be deeply respected by everyone in the country.

Naturally, I wanted to read his books, and I discovered that his most popular trilogy had been translated into English. It took me a while to finish it, because I rarely have time to sit and read, and there is no audio version, but I loved it!

Honestly, I do not know how in the world Jaan Kross got away with writing this kind of book under Soviet occupation, but I guess they took it literally like he was talking about Germans :)

Regardless of political context, it's a great book! I may be biased, because I love Tallinn, and I know not every street, but almost every building mentioned. When you read this book, you are completely immersed in the life of Medieval Tallinn; I felt like I could hear every sound, and smell every smell... I am on book three now!

[Lewis]

Hoping Balthasar is able to resist the pleasures of the human flesh a bit better in parts two and three so that we dedicate more time to ironing out his position on the ubiquity of Christ.