100 stories from the hiking route

1937 – Friedebert Tuglas writes “Väike Illimar” (“Little Illimar”)

Information

Topic

Literature and culture

Coordinates

Long-Lat WGS 84

Latitude: 58.208139

Longitude: 27.074453

L-EST 97

x: 6456058.1
y: 680675.4

Location

Ähijärve-Aegviidu Hiking route

“Little Illimar, I describe you as I remember from the past and as I see you now. I have grown up with you, I have been with you every day of your life, I almost am you and I should know you. But also, I am a lot older now and I see and understand everything completely differently.”

Friedebert Mihkelson (later Tuglas), born on 2 March 1886, was the second son born into the family of the carpenter of Ahja Manor. Even though the family moved away from Ahja when Tuglas was years old, his childhood years remained precious to him. His novel “Väike Illimar” was published in 1937. The book perfectly captured the atmosphere of the manor with its interesting characters at the end of the last quarter of the 19th century. In “Väike Illimar”, Tuglas tried to convey the domestic life of his childhood as accurately and as realistically as possible, describing the buildings of Ahja Manor, the surrounding landscapes, people and their interpersonal relationships. However, it is still a work of fiction.
“After reading the book, my mother laughed and said, “Oh how you have fibbed!” But a few years later I heard how she used my “redaction” when telling acquaintances about something that had happened to her in the past. She had become used to them and started to believe in them,” reminisces Tuglas.
The memory of Friedebert Tuglas has not disappeared from Ahja. Upon agreement, you can visit the Tuglas’ Museum in Ahja rural municipality.