Ilona Martson

Ilona Martson
Martson at the Baltic Book Fair in 2010
Born1970 (age 55–56)
Other nameIlona Kivirähk
CitizenshipEstonia
Alma materUniversity of Tartu
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • editor
  • translator
Known forEditor-in-chief of Täheke
SpouseAndrus Kivirähk
Children3, including Kaarin Kivirähk
AwardsMuhvi Award (2003)
Paabeli Torni Award (2011)
Tallinn University Literary Award (2020)
Order of the White Star, IV Class (2021)

Ilona Martson (legal name Ilona Kivirähk; born 1970) is an Estonian journalist, editor and literary translator.[1][2] Since 2004 she has been editor-in-chief of the children's magazine Täheke.[3] She previously worked in the culture department of Eesti Päevaleht, later heading it, and has translated fiction into Estonian chiefly from Russian and Ukrainian.[4] Her work in children's literature and translation has received the Muhvi Award, the Paabeli Torni Award, the Tallinn University Literary Award, and the Order of the White Star, IV Class.[5][6][7][8]

Early life and education

Martson studied journalism at the University of Tartu.[9][10]

Alongside her editorial work, Martson has translated literature for children and adults, mainly from Russian and, increasingly, from Ukrainian.[11]

While still a student, she began working in journalism; she later worked as a reporter, edited the literary supplement Arkaadia, and became head of the culture desk at Eesti Päevaleht.[2][4]

Career

In early 2004, Martson became editor-in-chief of Täheke. Under her editorship, the magazine has remained a prominent institution in Estonian children's culture.[4] In 2020, ERR described Täheke as the longest-running children's magazine published in Estonian, and in 2024 Martson discussed the difficulties of reaching children through print in a digital media environment.[3][9] Under her editorship, the magazine has remained an institution in Estonian children's culture. In 2022, Täheke published a Ukrainian-language special issue intended for free distribution to Ukrainian children who had fled the war to Estonia.[10]

Alongside her editorial work, Martson has translated literature for children and adults, mainly from Russian and, increasingly, from Ukrainian.[2][4] Among the best-known translations associated with her are Grigory Oster's Õuduste kool, which received the Paabeli Torni Award in 2011, and Varlam Shalamov's Kolõma jutud, which received the Tallinn University Literary Award in 2020.[6][7][11]

Martson has also taken part in the study and promotion of Estonian children's literature. She has been involved with the children's literature research group coordinated by the Estonian Children's Literature Centre, contributed the chapter on children's and youth periodicals to the survey volume Eesti laste- ja noortekirjandus 1991–2012, and was among the essayists in Eesti lastekirjanduse kuldvara.[12][13][14]

Selected translations and publications

  • Eesti laste- ja noortekirjandus 1991–2012 (contributor; chapter Laste- ja noorteajakirjandus, 2014)[13]
  • Üks koll läks ükskord kooli: Eesti lapse kõige uuemad jubejutud (compiler, 2018)[15]
  • Larõssa Denõssenko, Maia ja sõbrad (translator, 2022)[11]
  • Varlam Shalamov, Kolõma jutud (translator, 2019)[16]
  • Romana Romanõšõn and Andri Lessiv, Sõda, mis muutis Rondot (translator, 2022)[17]

Honours and awards

  • Muhvi Award (2003).[5]
  • Tallinn University Literary Award, translation category (2020), for her translation of Varlam Shalamov's Kolõma jutud.[7]
  • Order of the White Star, IV Class (2021)[8]
  • Paabeli Torni Award (2011), for her Estonian translation of Grigory Oster's Õuduste kool[6]

Personal life

Martson is married to author Andrus Kivirähk. They have three daughters: Kaarin, Liisa, and Teele.[18]: cf  Their first grandchild was born in March 2024.[19] In April 2024, her eldest daughter, Kaarin Kivirähk, gave birth to a son, Martson's first grandchild.[20]

Citations

  1. ↑ Eesti Lavastuste Andmebaas 2026.
  2. 1 2 ERR 2024a.
  3. 1 2 ERR 2024b.
  4. 1 2 3 Integratsiooni Sihtasutus 2025.
  5. 1 2 Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus 2026a.
  6. 1 2 3 Tartu Linnaraamatukogu kirjandusveeb 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Tallinna Ülikool 2026.
  8. 1 2 ERR 2021.
  9. 1 2 ERR 2020.
  10. 1 2 ERR 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 DIGAR 2026a.
  12. ↑ Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus 2026b.
  13. 1 2 Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus 2026c.
  14. ↑ Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus 2018.
  15. ↑ DIGAR 2026b.
  16. ↑ DIGAR 2026c.
  17. ↑ DIGAR 2026d.
  18. ↑ Vapper 2015.
  19. ↑ Portaal 2024.
  20. ↑ Mugra 2024.

References

  • DIGAR. "Kolõma jutud". DIGAR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • DIGAR. "Üks koll läks ükskord kooli: Eesti lapse kõige uuemad jubejutud". DIGAR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • DIGAR. "Maia ja sõbrad". DIGAR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • DIGAR. "Sõda, mis muutis Rondot". DIGAR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus. "Muhvi auhind". Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus. "Lastekirjanduse uurimine". Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus. "Eesti laste- ja noortekirjandus 1991-2012". Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus (24 October 2018). "Ilmus "Eesti lastekirjanduse kuldvara"". Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Eesti Lavastuste Andmebaas. "Ilona Martson". Eesti Lavastuste Andmebaas (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • ERR (20 March 2024). "Tõlkija Ilona Martson: raamat, mis on süvatõsine, ei kõneta mind". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • ERR (10 December 2024). "Ilona Martson: Täheke on tänapäeva lapse silmis vanamoodne meedia". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • ERR (24 February 2021). "Teenetemärgi kavaler Ilona Kivirähk: oluline on hoida alles Tähekese loomise rõõmu". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • ERR (18 January 2020). "Tähekese toimetus peab rinda pistma sisu suhtes kriitiliste lapsevanematega". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • ERR (27 May 2022). "Pildid: Ukraina kultuurikeskuses esitleti ukrainakeelset Tähekest". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Integratsiooni Sihtasutus (30 January 2025). "Kirjanduslik kohtumine Koidula muuseumis / külas Ilona Martson". Integratsiooni Sihtasutus (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Tallinna Ülikool. "Kirjandusauhinna laureaadid". Tallinna Ülikool (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Tartu Linnaraamatukogu kirjandusveeb. "Paabeli Torni auhind". Tartu Linnaraamatukogu kirjandusveeb (in Estonian). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  • Mugra, Lisa (25 April 2024). "Palju õnne! Andrus Kivirähk sai vanaisaks" [Congratulations! Andrus Kivirähk became a grandfather]. TV3 (in Estonian). Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  • Vapper, Tiina (18 December 2015). "Andrus Kivirähk: „Lastele kirjutamiseks on oma nipid"" [Andrus Kivirähk: "Writing for Children Has Its Own Tricks"]. Õpetajate Leht (in Estonian). Retrieved 3 May 2026.

See also

  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Ilona Martson at Wikimedia Commons
  • Quotations related to Ilona Martson at Wikiquote
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