Anna Brigadere, whose work is a curious mixture of romanticism and realism, became an established institution in the Latvian intellectual landscape at the beginning of the twentieth century. Her creative output, which shows the considerable influence of modern psychology and especially Latvian folklore, represents all literary genres--drama, prose, and poetry, as well as cultural journalism. She developed a popular following mainly because of her fairy-tale plays--which are still standard production pieces on Latvian stages--and her lyrical childhood reminiscences, now considered among the noblest works of Latvian literature.

In terms of quantity, quality, and popularity of work, Brigadere is acknowledged as one of the major modern Latvian dramatists, including Rudolfs Blaumanis, Aspazija, Janis Rainis, and Martins Ziverts. There is a strong ethical element in Brigadere's work and an equally prominent interest in aesthetic matter: sensual experience, enjoyment of beauty, and sensitivity to literary technique. She sought to create a...