Rūdolfs Blaumanis

Kārlis Rūdolfs Leonīds Blaumanis (1 January 1863 – 4 September 1908) was a Latvian writer, journalist and playwright. He is a renowned writer in Latvian history and a master of realism. His best plays are set in the late 19th century Latvian countryside and explore within the context of the farmstead the universal themes of love (Purva bridējs) and generational conflict (Indrāni), as well as the lighter side of rural social life (Skroderdienas Silmačos, Trīnes grēki). The building of a flat in Riga that he once lived in has been converted to a memorial museum named partially in his honor, the Janis Rozentāls and Rūdolfs Blaumanis museum.

Biography Rūdolfs Blaumanis was born in Ērgļi, in the Governorate of Livonia (now Latvia) on December 20, 1862. After graduation he started to work as a clerk in a trading enterprise. During this period he started to write his first works. First publication – a story Wiedergefunden was published in 1882 in [German language] newspaper Zeitung für Stadt und Land. In the following years several more of his plays was staged with good success. In 1892 collection of his novels was translated into Estonian and later several more of his works was published in Estonia. The Riga Russian Theatre presented his drama The Prodigal Son (Pazudušais dēls) in 1893. Later he briefly worked in the New Current's main newspaper Dienas Lapa where he published satire against romanticism. In 1898 he returned to Riga and together with Aspazija and Jānis Poruks worked in one of the biggest journals Mājas Viesis. In 1900 he together with his friend Andrievs Niedra published collection of poetry.

In 1901, he moved to St.Petersburg, where he worked as journalist and editor in Latvian newspaper Pēterburgas avīzes. He led a satirical section of the newspaper. In 1904 due to the financial and health problems he returned to Latvia and until 1906 lived in Braki. In this period he wrote some of his most famous plays. He was not directly involved in the Revolution of 1905 but supported writers who were. In 1906, he again moved to Riga and started to work in the newspaper Latvija where he led satirical section. During this period, he shared a flat in Riga with his close friend painter Janis Rozentāls. In 1908, his health started to decline. Due to the financial problems he was not able to undergo treatment. However, several fellow Latvian writers started a fundraising campaign and in late summer with the help of painters J. Rozentals Finnish wife Blaumanis was able to go to Finland. However that was too late and he died on 4 September 1908 in the Punkaharju sanatorium for tubercular patients in Finland. He was buried in his native Ērgļi village. "Ugunī" (1905) "Sestdienas vakars" (1908)

Poetry "Tālavas taurētājs" (1902) "Kā zagšus" "Mana lūgšana" "Memento!" "Pērkons" "Renatus" "Šūpuļa dziesma" "Tautasdziesma" "Vēl tu nezini" "Zelta jaunība" "Ziedonis klāt" "Ziema"

Feuilleton satirical prose "Labāko famīliju dzejnieks" (1894) "Īsa pamācība mīlēšanā" (1907) "Jocīgi kapu uzraksti" (1907)

Memory A museum dedicated to Rūdolfs Blaumanis, "Braki," was opened in 1959. There is the Janis Rozentāls/Rūdolfs Blaumanis Museum (memorial apartment) in Riga on Alberta Street 12. In Sigulda, at the crossroads of Darza and Parka Streets, a monument was built in 1988 by the sculptor I. Dobychin.