Hasso Krull


Hasso Krull is an Estonian poet, essayist, translator, and literary and cultural critic.

Early life and education

Krull graduated from Tallinn Secondary School No. 7 and studied Estonian language and literature at Tallinn Pedagogical University.
In the early 1990s he studied literary theory at the Estonian Institute of Humanities.
In 2024 he completed a doctorate at the Estonian Academy of Arts, defending a dissertation in art history and visual culture titled Kosmiline trikster eesti mütoloogias.

Career

Krull has taught literary and cultural theory at the Estonian Institute of Humanities. In 2021 he was appointed professor of liberal arts at the University of Tartu.
In 2001, together with poet Kalju Kruusa, he founded the translation-poetry web magazine Ninniku.

Work

Krull entered the Estonian literary scene in the late Soviet period as a poet, critic, and translator.
His debut poetry collection, Mustvalge, was published under the pseudonym Max Harnoon.
From the 2000s onward, mythology and folklore became increasingly prominent in his poetry and essays, including the long poem Meeter ja Demeeter and the epic Kui kivid olid veel pehmed.
Alongside his original writing, Krull is known for translating modern philosophy and literary theory into Estonian, including works by authors such as Georges Bataille, Paul Valéry, Jacques Derrida, and others.

Awards and honours

Poetry

  • Mustvalge
  • Pihlakate meri
  • Luuletused 1987–1991
  • Meeter ja Demeeter
  • Talv
  • Neli korda neli
  • Kui kivid olid veel pehmed
  • ''Euroopa''

    Essays and criticism

  • Katkestuse kultuur
  • Millimallikas
  • Loomise mõnu ja kiri
  • Jumalanna pesa
  • ''Mõistatuse sild''