Estonians are a nation of avid readers and rank among the most passionate book lovers in the world. Last week in Tallinn a new cabbage-head bust was placed in the inner courtyard of the Estonian National Library dedicated to well loved books. The monument pays tribute and makes reference to the common Estonian expression "raamat on loetud kapsaks" that literally means "the book has been read into a cabbage," referring to books that have been read so many times they become worn and tattered.
"Monument to Books Worn to Shreds"
So what books do Estonians love to read so much?
Estonians love reading works by local Estonian authors, focusing heavily on national classics, historical fiction, folklore-inspired tales, and beloved children's literature.
The most popular books read by Estonians are:
1.Truth and Justice I (Tõde ja õigus) by Anton Hansen Tammsaare. Published in 1926, Volume One is widely considered the Estonian national novel. This masterpiece explores the toil, philosophy, and soul of the Estonian people through rural life.
2. Kalevipoeg by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald. Estonia's national epic, charting the heroic and tragic deeds of the mythical giant Kalevipoeg protecting the land.
3. Spring (Kevade) by Oskar Luts. Published in 1912, the novel is a nostalgic, humorous, and deeply cherished portrait of school life in rural Estonia.
4. The Czar's Madman (Keisri hull) by Jaan Kross (1978). A world-renowned historical novel portraying 19th-century psychological resistance under the Russian Empire.
5. Apothecary Melchior Series by Indrek Hargla. Hugely popular contemporary murder mystery novels set in 15th-century mediaeval Tallinn.
6. The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu) by Andrus Kivirähk (2007). A modern folkloric masterpiece and massive bestseller blending magic, survival, and Estonian identity.
7. Three Jolly Fellows (Naksitrallid) by Eno Raud is considered a timeless classic of Estonian children's literature.
