Rudolfs Blaumanis was arguably the most popular Latvian writer of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and has remained so for Latvian people at home and throughout the world. From his first published poem, "Nakts" (Night), which appeared in the 11 October 1886 issue of Majas viesis (The House Guest) under the name Peteris Jirgensons, until his last drama, Sestdienas vakars (Saturday Evening, 1909), written in 1908, he was a prolific writer. Since throughout his career he was editor of the literature section of various newspapers, he published many of his works serially and under various names. He wrote in every genre, and critics agree that he was equally talented as a poet, short-story writer, playwright, and satirist. His most popular works in every medium are profound, interesting, and clearly written, without the burden of extensive figures of speech. He transcribed the Latvian language as it was spoken--with proverbs, common and...