Mart Raud (writer)

Mart Raud
Born	Martin Raud (1903-09-14)14 September 1903 Aidenhof, Kreis Fellin, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire
Died	6 July 1980(1980-07-06) (aged 76) Tallinn, Estonia
Occupation(s)	Writer, poet, playwright
Years active	1925–1980
Spouse	Valda Raud (née Aaviste)

Mart Raud (14 September 1903 – 6 July 1980) was a Soviet and Estonian poet, playwright and writer.

History

Mart Raud was born in Aidu, Kreis Fellin, Governorate of Livonia. He attended the village school in Heimtali (today Pärsti Parish) and the parish schools in Paistu and Viljandi. Later he attended the University of Tartu studying literature. In the 1920s, Raud joined the literary movement Arbujad. After the 1940 Soviet occupation of Estonia, however, he was loyal to the new regime and distanced himself from his previous literary companions, many of whom were deported to Siberia. Raud joined the Communist Party in 1945. He was married twice. From his first marriage to the educator Lea Raud he had a son, children's writer Eno Raud. His second marriage to the translator Valda Raud resulted in daughter Anu Raud and son Annus Raud. His grandchildren are scholar and author Rein Raud, musician and journalist Mihkel Raud and artist and writer Piret Raud.