Estonia 1850-2010: Texts, Agents, Institutions and Practices

Reception of August von Kotzebue in Eastern Europe and August Kitzberg’s self-reflection on translating Kotzebue

On the annual conference “Kotzebue-Gespräche” (October 8.-9., 2021) Maris Saagpakk presented an overview of reception patterns of Kotzebue in some Eastern European countries. A common dynamic of a 30-year reception curve, starting from delight and ending with strong criticism could be traced in each country surveyed. Furthermore, a self-reflection by August Kitzberg on his activity as translator of Kotzebue was presented. Kitzberg was the translator of the earliest printed translation of Kotzebue in Estonian “Wirrwarr” (1878).