She Who Remembers, Survives is a collection of nine life stories of Estonian women who either survived Siberia or remained in the homeland throughout the Soviet years. The book, published this spring by Tartu University Press, and edited by Tiina Kirss, Ene Kõresaar, and Marju Lauristin consists of the translated stories and scholarly interpretations of them from a variety of perspectives. After Estonia regained its independence and concerted efforts began to gather people’s memories of this period, led by the Estonian Heritage Society, the Estonian Literary Museum and the Estonian National Museum, these nine women wrote and submitted their stories. Though they were first selected for inclusion in volumes of life stories in Estonian, these accounts are now available for the English-speaking reader and for a wider scholarly audience. The articles explore several aspects of historical and cultural background of the women`s lives in Estonia, as well as the way memories are transmitted in family and community networks. The volume is the fruit of collaboration of a small but growing group of scholars interested in autobiographical writing in the Baltic countries in private and public contexts.

A presentation of She Who Remembers, Survives will take place on Thursday 20 MAY 2004 from 5-7 PM on the University of Toronto campus in Room 108 North of the Munk Centre for International Studies, 1 Devonshire Place, at the corner of Hoskin and Devonshire, one block south of Bloor and one block east of St. George Street. The event will be introduced by Prof. Jüri Kivimäe, Chair of Estonian Studies at the University of Toronto. Prof.Tiina Kirss will speak about the book in the context of gathering life stories in Estonia and the Toronto diaspora community. Books will be available for purchase at the event. For additional information please contact Dr. Tiina Kirss at or by phone at 416 946 8945.

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