For Krista Kaer, literature is not just a profession—it’s a lifelong mission to connect readers across languages and cultures. As one of the initiators and the programme director of Tallinn’s HeadRead Literary Festival, and editor-in-chief of Estonia’s largest publishing house, Varrak, she has long been a bridge between British literature and Estonian audiences.
Her connection with the British Council goes back over 30 years, beginning with literary seminars in Cambridge in the early 1990s. ‘Those seminars were invaluable,’ she says. ‘They allowed me to meet British authors in person—authors I would later invite to Estonia.’ Thanks to these connections, celebrated writers like A. S. Byatt, Helen Oyeyemi and Robin Robertson have attended the HeadRead festival.
Krista is also an award-winning translator, responsible for bringing the works of Doris Lessing, Ursula Le Guin, Oscar Wilde, and all seven Harry Potter books to Estonian readers. ‘Translation is about more than language—it’s about making a voice heard in a different cultural context,’ she explains.
From advising the British Council library in Estonia in its early days to shaping the literary landscape through publishing, translation and live events, Krista’s work has helped generations of readers explore new perspectives.
‘Our relationship with the British Council has been one of mutual trust and inspiration,’ she reflects. ‘It’s not just about authors and books—it’s about the ideas and conversations they spark.’