Estonian literature is literature written in the Estonian language The domination of Estonia after the Northern Crusades, from the 13th century to 1918 by Germany, Sweden, and Russia resulted in few early written literary works in the Estonian language. The oldest records of written Estonian date from the 13th century. Originates Livoniae in Chronicle of Henry of Livonia contains Estonian place names, words and fragments of sentences. The Liber Census Daniae (1241) contains Estonian place and family names. The earliest extant samples of connected Estonian are the so-called Kullamaa prayers dating from 1524 and 1528. The first known printed book is a bilingual German-Estonian translation of the Lutheran catechism by S.Wanradt and J. Koell (1535). For the use of priests an Estonian grammar was printed in German in 1637. The New Testament was translated into southern Estonian in 1686. The two dialects were united by Anton Thor Helle in a form based on northern Estonian. Writings in Estonian became more significant in the 19th century during the Estophile Enlightenment Period (1750–1840).
Jüri Talvet is an Estonian poet and academic. He is the author of various literary works including poetry, criticism, and essays.
Maarja Kangro is an Estonian poet, short story writer, novelist, essayist, nonfiction writer and librettist.
Ott Sepp is an Estonian actor, comedian, singer, writer and television presenter.
Leelo Tungal is an Estonian poet, children's writer, translator, editor and librettist.
Asko Künnap is an Estonian designer, writer, and artist.
Liis Koger is an Estonian painter and poet based in Tallinn.
Piret Laurimaa, is an Estonian stage, television, radio, and film actress.
Kiiri Tamm is an Estonian stage, television and film actress and stage manager.
Ursula Ratasepp is an Estonian stage, film and television actress.
Katrin Pärn is an Estonian stage, film and television actress and singer.
Vallo Kirs is an Estonian stage, film, and television actor and stage director whose career began as a teenager in 2004. Kirs is possibly best recalled internationally for his role as Kaspar in the 2007 Ilmar Raag-directed feature film drama Klass.
Merle Jääger is an Estonian television, stage and film actress, poet and author who frequently uses the pen name Merca. Initially associated with the burgeoning Estonian punk rock scene of the early to mid 1980s, she has been described as the "bard of protest". Her career as an actress began in her early 20s and she has received a number of high-profile awards for stage roles.
Saara Pius, is an Estonian stage, film and television actress and singer.
Ly Seppel is an Estonian poet and translator.
Kaur Alttoa is an Estonian art historian and cultural historian.
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Marju Lepajõe was an Estonian classical philologist, translator and religious historian.
Jüri Lina is an Estonian journalist, writer, paranormal investigator, music producer, radio host, film director and ufologist.
Aino Jõgi was an Estonian linguist, emeritus associate professor of English philology at the University of Tartu, and translator.
