Maarja Kangro was born in Tallinn, Estonia in 1973. She is one of the most compelling Estonian authors and poets of the 21st century. Her work, which has won numerous literary awards and tributes from her readers, gives expression to a complex and distinctive perception of life. It ranges from cynical social comedy, political reportage, and intellectual game-playing to expressions of deep empathy with physical suffering and bodily fragility. Kangro began her literary career as a translator (of, among others, Leopardi, Zanzotto, Agamben and Enzensberger) and as a writer of libretti for contemporary classical composers. Her poems and short stories have been translated into more than 20 languages.