Mihkel Mutt replaces Viiding’s farewell letters with blank pages

Writer Mihkel Mutt says the new printing of his biography “Juhani evangeelium” replaces Juhan Viiding’s farewell letters with blank pages, ERR reported.

Viiding’s heirs demanded that Mutt remove the letters from the book. Mutt said on social media that the new printing is expected to reach shops in the coming days.

Mutt said removing the letters required changes to entire sections of the book, so he chose blank pages rather than photographs or other images. He described the result as “holy silence” and said the minimalism suited the spirit of Viiding’s final years.

The second printing was nearly complete when the demand reached Mutt. To avoid sending the finished books for recycling, pages containing the letters were cut out and blank pages glued in their place.

Mutt said there are now three versions of the book: one with the letters, one printed without them, and a third in which careful inspection may reveal a trace of glue near the inner edge.