Klusums : dzimteniga dzeja (The Silence : Motherland's Poetry)

Fine condition; staples are slightly rusted and cover has began to detach at one staple, bookstore stamp on the back cover, otherwise perfect. 

Current book of verses was written while its author was imprisoned in 1928 for an illegal publication issued on behalf Latvian Independent Socialist party, of which he was a prominent member. By this time author became a convinced Marxist and his early avant-garde ideas are now expressed in "revolutionary" leftist nature poetry with a sharp critics of the capitalist world. These poems of hight artistic quality and laconic rhythm of verse, had a great impact on the development of Latvian Democratic literature. 

“Kurcijs’ “The Silence” is the so-called ideological poetry. It shows us life through the prism of socialist fighter. Such ideological poetry can still be called conscientious for the reason that there is no random lyrical versatility, but all the impulses obeyed by mature convictions. In the Kurcijs’ verses is evident that this politically left-wing movement already has its expanded breadth, its own moods. We are dealing with a platonic socialist, but he seems to be getting harsher. As he struggled with his idealism, he was obviously leaning toward reality. He writes in the “Silence”: "Now I'm looking for a word, simple word of life, poetry without beauty”… (Baumanis, Arturs. Jaunas dzeju grāmatas. Daugava, 1931, No. 4, 488 pp.)

Book's noticeable cover design with strong constructivist approach was created by an unattributed in the colophon author, presumably by Niklavs Strunke - the style is very typical for him, and he created a number of similar works for the author. 

Andrejs Kurcijs (1884-1959) was leftist experimental poet, literary- and art critic, popularizer of the European avant-garde trends, mainly Expressionism and Activism, in Latvia. He was also a key member of "Riga Activist", the most remarkable Latvian avant-garde movement of the 1920s. 

Niklavs Strunke (1894-1966) famous artist, representative of radical phase in Latvian avant-garde, whose art is known by Cubist and Constructivist influences, also his works attest to the interest in Italian art and Latvian folk art. Member of the cult Riga Artists Group. Works in the field of book design feature refined stylization, ornateness and simplicity of forms, clarity, purity, and primitivism.