Sinijärv recommends Trull poetry alongside books on Henry V and Aurelius

Estonian poet and National Library cultural adviser Karl Martin Sinijärv recommends Ilmar Trull’s new poetry collection, along with books about English King Henry V and Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, ERR reported.

Ilmar Trull, Riimiraamat ranitsasse

Ilmar Trull, a classic of wordplay-driven fun poetry in Estonian, has released an excellent collection just as the school year begins, Sinijärv writes. He urges parents already shopping for notebooks, books and other school supplies to take home a lively poetry book that can delight family members of all ages.

The collection includes some pieces that have appeared in newspapers or elsewhere over the years, as well as entirely new material. For readers who do not usually read poetry in Estonian, however, it will all be new.

Sinijärv says Trull covers a broad poetic range with a free hand and a cheerful spirit. The poems are suitable for readers regardless of their year of birth and in every season, although especially so now.

The book is also visually appealing. Anne Pikkov’s illustrations bring cheer to every page. Sinijärv recommends picking up the volume and learning its poems by heart, saying they are made for being read aloud.

Books on Henry V and Marcus Aurelius

Dan Jones’s book, Henry V: The Astonishing Rise of England’s Greatest Warrior King, offers a detailed and engaging look at life in 15th-century England, Sinijärv writes. Henry V ruled for less than a decade but knew how to use his time in power. The events before and after his reign help explain how and why he succeeded.

Sinijärv says the book should appeal both to knowledgeable readers and to those just beginning to explore history. He also notes that Shakespeare’s account of Henry V is worth reading, although it presents the king in its own way.

Donald J. Robertson’s Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor examines one of Rome’s most impressive emperors from a perspective that is somewhat more focused on Stoicism, Sinijärv writes.

Marcus Aurelius has been portrayed through written works, the Roman peace and myth-making. Sinijärv says a person who achieved and did much can easily be presented in many different ways. Robertson’s book, he adds, is certainly worth reading and reflecting on.