7 January 2012 is the 125th birth anniversary of the
author Oskar Luts.
A good skill of listening acquired from his grandfather as well as his
excellent memory helped him when going to the parish school at Palamuse
and later as a writer. At just 25 years old Oskar Luts, who had earlier
penned only a few lines of poetry, authored „Spring“, a book that made
him famous all over the country overnight. Based on the memories of his
school years Luts describes life at an Estonian village school at the
end of the 19th century, peppered with humour and touching scenes of
young love. It was a work that critics initially looked down upon but
has survived through numerous editions and generations of enthusiasts
have seen it in several stage versions and in a popular movie. The book
has been translated into 13 languages.
The school Oskar Luts once went to at Palamuse is now a museum of late
19th century school life, bringing it alive through the medium of
Spring.
