Reflections on peace during a train ride, or If Leida Kibuvits and Virginia Woolf had met

Eret Talviste

doi:https://doi.org/10.54013/kk788a10

Keywords: nationalism, transnational feminist modernism, Estonian literature, women’s writing, comparative literature

This article reads Estonian writer Leida Kibuvits’s (1907–1976) novel “An Evening Ride” (Rahusõit, 1933) in dialogue with Virginia Woolf’s book-length feminist essay “Three Guineas” (1938) in order to explore how these two writers critique violent and patriarchal nationalism. In its place they imagine, through their affective aesthetics, a peaceful and feminist relationship to the land. The article sees this imaginary meeting as something that Saidiya Hartman would term critical fabulation, and it situates Kibuvits’s and Woolf’s dialogue in the critical framework of transnational feminist modernist studies. By doing so, the article demonstrates that although these writers never met and may never have heard of one another, a comparative approach to their work fills in certain archival silences, also providing a nuanced understanding of how questions relating to women’s role in nation states were addressed similarly by writers across national borders during the first decades of the 20^th century.

Eret Talviste (b. 1991), PhD, University of Tartu, College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Researcher of Contemporary English Literature (Lossi 3, 51003 Tartu), eret.talviste@ut.ee

References

Arhiiviallikad

Eesti Kirjandusmuuseumi (EKM) Eesti Kultuurilooline Arhiiv (EKLA)

f 245 – Friedebert Tuglas

Kirjandus

A. K. 1936. Leida Kibuvits. Naise teoseist kaovad poos, šest ja sädistamine alles pärast viiekümnendat eluaastat. – Vaba Maa 16. V, lk 8.

Aele, A. 1934. Noore naiskirjaniku naiselik romaan. – Sakala Pühapäev 22. XII, lk 3.

Annuk, Eve 2021. Soolisustatud rahvuslus Lilli Suburgi (1841–1923) jutustuses „Liina” (1877). – Mäetagused, nr 81, lk 45−64. https://doi.org/10.7592/MT2021.81.annuk

Annuk, Eve 2023. Naisproosakirjanikud kultuuriloos ja tänapäeva eesti kultuuriteadvuses. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 8–9, lk 755–774.

Annus, Epp 2017. Soviet Postcolonial Studies: A View from the Western Borderlands. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315226583

Berman, Jessica 2012. Modernist Commitments: Ethics, Politics, and Transnational Modernism. New York: Columbia University Press.

Berman, Jessica 2018. Practicing transnational feminist recovery today. – Feminist Modernist Studies, kd 1, nr 1–2, lk 9–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/24692921.2017.1382968

Doyle, Laura 2009. Toward a philosophy of transnationalism. – Journal of Transnational American Studies, kd 1, nr 1, lk 1–29. https://doi.org/10.5070/T811006941

Fernald, Anne E. 2013. Women’s fiction, new modernist studies, and feminism. – Modern Fiction Studies, kd 59, nr 2, lk 229–240. https://doi.org/10.1353/mfs.2013.0024

Friedman, Susan Stanford 2001. Feminism, state fictions and violence: gender, geopolitics and transnationalism. – Communal/Plural, kd 9, nr 1, lk 111–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13207870124583

Hartman, Saidiya 2008. Venus in two acts. – Small Axe, kd 12, nr 26, lk 1–14.

Hennoste, Tiit 2016. Eesti kirjanduslik avangard 20. sajandi algul. Hüpped modernismi poole I. (Heuremata.) Tartu–Tallinn: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus.

Heywood, Andrew 2017. Political Ideologies: An Introduction. London: Macmillan International Higher Education.

Hiiemäe, Sirly 2006. Naiskarakterid Leida Kibuvitsa romaanis „Soomustüdruk”. Bakalaureusetöö. Tallinn: Tallinna Ülikool.

Hinrikus, Mirjam 2011. Dekadentlik modernsuskogemus A. H. Tammsaare ja nooreestlaste loomingus. (Dissertationes litterarum et contemplationis comparativae Universitatis Tartuensis 10.) Tartu: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus.

Hinrikus, Rutt 2008. Noor-Eesti ja naised. – Methis. Studia humaniora Estonica, nr 1–2, lk 146–162. https://doi.org/10.7592/methis.v1i1-2.465

Hirsch, Marianne 2018. Feminist Archives of Possibility. – Differences: A Journal of Feminist Cultural Studies, kd 29, nr 1, lk 173–188. https://doi.org/10.1215/10407391-6681696

James, David; Seshagiri, Urmila 2014. Metamodernism: Narratives of Continuity and Revolution. – PMLA, kd 129, nr 1, lk 87–100. https://doi.org/10.1632/pmla.2014.129.1.87

Kaljundi, Linda 2022. Decolonise that – Estonian identity as indigenous and/or white. – A Shade Colder, nr 1, https://www.ashadecolder.com/decolonise-that-estonian-identity-as-indigenous-and-or-white

Karro, Piret 2022. 150 aastat Eesti feminismi. – Vikerkaar, nr 4, lk 57–112.

Kenk, Kaire 2015. Unustusse vajunud. – Elu Lood. Eesti Naise kvartalilisa, nr 13, lk 20–27.

Kibuvits, Leida 1941. Vanad kirsipuud. – L. Kibuvits, Sipelgaõli. Tartu: RK Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, lk 79–105.

Kibuvits, Leida 1962. Orfeus II. – L. Kibuvits, Elagu inimene! Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, lk 86–107.

Kibuvits, Leida 2003. Rahusõit. Manglus Sepapoeg. (Eesti romaanivara.) Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.

Kibuvits, Leida 2022. Ladybirdred. Tlk Eret Talviste. – The Fortnightly Review, nr 2, https://fortnightlyreview.co.uk/2023/02/kibuvits-ladybirdred/

Kirikal, Merlin 2022. Pygmalioni ja Narkissose moodsad ümberkirjutused. Tuglase „Felix Ormusson” ja Semperi „Hiina kett”. – Mäng ja melanhoolia. Friedebert Tuglase romaan „Felix Ormusson”. (Moodsa eesti kirjanduse seminar 3.) Toim Mirjam Hinrikus, Jaan Undusk. Tallinn: Underi ja Tuglase Kirjanduskeskus, lk 80–112.

Kirss, Tiina Ann 2006. Ideaalsete naiste tuba ja uue naise rännakud. Tähelepanekuid naisajaloost. – Looming, nr 5, lk 762–773.

Kivimaa, Katrin 2003. Nationalism, Gender and Cultural Identities: The Case of Estonian Art from the Impact of Modernity to the Post-Soviet Era 1850–2000. Leeds: University of Leeds.

Koobak, Redi; Marling, Raili 2014. The decolonial challenge: framing post-socialist Central and Eastern Europe within transnational feminist studies. – European Journal of Women’s Studies, kd 21, nr 4, lk 330–343. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506814542882

Kurvet-Käosaar, Leena 2006. Embodied Subjectivity in the Diaries of Virginia Woolf, Aino Kallas and Anaïs Nin. (Dissertationes litterarum et contemplationis comparativae Universitatis Tartuensis 6.) Tartu: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus.

Kuznetski, Julia; Tüür, Kadri 2022. Estonian literature and ecofeminism. – The Routledge Handbook of Ecofeminism and Literature. Toim Douglas A. Vakoch. London: Routledge, lk 233–243. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003195610

Liivamets, Maire 2003. Mõned mõtted raamatu mõistmiseks. – Leida Kibuvits, Rahusõit. Manglus Sepapoeg. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, lk 301–304.

Lindsalu, Elo 2009. Kes oli paradiisi perenaine? Naiskunstniku problemaatikast Leida Kibuvitsa romaanis „Paradiisi pärisperenaine”. – Looming, nr 7, lk 973–982.

Lykke, Nina 2010. Feminist Studies: A Guide to Intersectional Theory, Methodology and Writing. London: Routledge.

Mao, Douglas; Walkowitz, Rebecca L. 2008. The new modernist studies. – PMLA, kd 123, nr 3, lk 737–748.

Marling, Raili 2023. Meeleheide ja morbiidne vitaalsus Djuna Barnesi „Öömetsas” ja Reed Morni „Andekas parasiidis”. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 8–9, lk 917–932.

Marling, Raili; Koobak, Redi 2017. Intersections of feminisms and neoliberalism: post-state-socialist Estonia in a transnational feminist framework. – Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, kd 38, nr 3, lk 1–21. https://doi.org/10.5250/fronjwomestud.38.3.0001

McGiff, Shilo Rae 2018. „Out of the Heart of Spring”: Virginia Woolf and the Changing Shapes of Pastoral 1928-1938. Ithaca: Cornell University. https://doi.org/10.7298/waxh-c171

Moody, Alys; Ross, Stephen J. (toim) 2020. Global Modernists on Modernism: An Anthology. London: Bloomsbury Academic. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781474242356

Ojam, Indrek 2018. Modernismi muutuv tähendus eesti kirjanduskultuuris. Rekonstrueerimiskatse. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 7, lk 541–559. https://doi.org/10.54013/kk728a2

Pachmanová, Martina 2010. In? Out? In between? Some notes on the invisibility of a nascent Eastern European feminist and gender discourse in contemporary art theory. – Gender Check: A Reader. Art and Theory in Eastern Europe since the 1960s. Toim Bojana Pejic. Cologne: Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, lk 37–49.

Põldsaar, Raili 2008. The Baltic States. – Bonnie G. Smith (toim), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History. Vol. 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195148909.001.0001/acref-9780195148909-e-80

Rojola, Lea 2009. „Ja ta tundis himu rääkida.” Aino Kallas, Maie Merits ja naiste hääl. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 10, lk 746–757.

Saint-Amour, Paul K. 2018. Weak theory, weak modernism. – Modernism/Modernity, kd 25, nr 3, lk 437–459. https://doi.org/10.1353/mod.2018.0035

Seaber, Luke; Shallcross, Michael 2019. The trouble with modernism: a dialogue. – The Modernist Review, nr 10. https://modernistreviewcouk.wordpress.com/2019/06/28/the-trouble-with-modernism/

Scott, Bonnie Kime 1990. The Gender of Modernism: A Critical Anthology. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

Soovik, Ene-Reet 2022. Tuulest tulek. Jaan Kaplinski luule tuuline maailm. – Methis. Studia humaniora Estonica, nr 29, lk 92–112. https://doi.org/10.7592/methis.v23i29.19033

Suchland, Jennifer 2011. Is postsocialism transnational? – Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, kd 36, nr 4, lk 837–862. https://doi.org/10.1086/658899

Suburg, Lilli 1877. Liina. Ühe Eesti tütarlapse elulugu, temast enesest jutustatud. Tartu: Schnakenburg.

Talivee, Elle-Mari 2023. Looduskultuuri mur(d)epunkte. Meie antropotseen. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 3, lk 267–285. https://doi.org/10.54013/kk783a1

Talviste, Eret 2021. Eestlus, naiste roll ja elu kui selline. Leida Kibuvitsa romaanist „Rahusõit”. – Looming, nr 6, lk 804−814.

Talviste, Eret 2022. Thoughts on peace during a train ride: Rethinking patriotism with Virginia Woolf and Leida Kibuvits. – Virginia Woolf Miscellany, nr 99, lk 18–20. https://virginiawoolfmiscellany.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/vwm99spring-fall2022-final-version.pdf

Tammsaare, A. H. 1981. Tõde ja õigus I. Kogutud teosed, 6. kd. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.

Tlostanova, Madina 2012. Postsocialist ≠ postcolonial? On post-Soviet imaginary and global coloniality. – Journal of Postcolonial Writing, kd 48, nr 2, lk 130–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449855.2012.658244

Tuglas, Friedebert 1933. Eesti romaan 1932. – Eesti Kirjandus, nr 2, lk 49–61.

Tuglas, Friedebert 1935. Eesti romaan 1934. – Eesti Kirjandus, nr 3, lk 109–126.

Tuglas, Friedebert 1936. Leida Kibuvits. Manglus Sepapoeg. – Eesti Kirjandus, nr 10, lk 476–479.

Tüür, Kadri 2023. Naine kirjutab lindudest. Ökofeministlik ekskurss eesti looduskirjandusse. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 8–9, lk 847–872.

Uustalu, Linda 1985. Leida Kibuvitsa romaanimaailm. – Looming, nr 10, lk 1419–1423.

Vaino, Maarja 2012. Rist ja rõõm. Lisandusi Leida Kibuvitsa eluloole. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 10, lk 755–767. https://doi.org/10.54013/kk659a3

Varrak, Toomas 2000. Estonia: crisis and ’pre-emptive’ authoritarianism. – Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Jeremy Mitchell (toim), Conditions of Democracy in Europe 1919–39: Systematic Case Studies. London–New York: Springer, lk 106–129. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333993774_5

Veski, Liisi 2023. Towards stronger national unity: statist ideas in Estonian nationalism during the “Era of Silence” (1934–1940). – Journal of Baltic Studies, lk 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/01629778.2023.2190991

Walkowitz, Rebecca L. 2016. Planetary modernisms: provocations on modernity across time. – Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies, kd 18, nr 5, lk 748–750. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369801X.2016.1173961

Woolf, Virginia 1992. A Room of One’s Own and Three Guineas. Toimetanud ja eessõna kirjutanud Morag Shiach. (Oxford World’s Classics.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Woolf, Virginia 2011. Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid. – V. Woolf, The Essays of Virginia Woolf. Vol. 6: 1933–1941. Toim Stuart N. Clarke. London: Hogarth Press, lk 242–248.