I identified very closely with Boyle's journey having travelled extensively in Estonia myself (not as a backpacker I hasten to add!) and many of his observations about lesser known sleepy backwaters such as Valga, Häädemeeste, Tõrva and Kunda certainly ring very true.
Boyle, whose mother was Estonian and who hails from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, writes from the heart about a country with which he obviously feels a close affinity whilst at the same time maintaining the distance and perspective of an outsider. His prose style is descriptive, entertaining and emotional – more akin to an autobiographical novel rather than a travelogue. At times, the narrative gives away slightly too much personal information about the author and one is left wanting to know less rather than more about his lost Estonian love in Tallinn, Riina, and his middle-aged struggles with his rising blood pressure.
The question of ‘the indrawn heart' remains unclear in my own mind as I do not agree with the E. Howard Harris translation of the line ‘su süda tõmbaks ühes' which to me means more ‘your heart would beat in unison'. As an expatriate Estonian brought up in the UK I can, however, strongly identify with Boyle's general picture of the introverted Estonian of few words who is neither outgoing nor gregarious although he does meet several Estonians who do not conform to this generalised picture of the national character.
This is highly recommended reading both for those with intimate knowledge of Estonia and Estonians as well as those who wish to acquaint themselves more closely with this small but beautiful and fascinating Baltic outpost.
‘The Indrawn Heart' is published by Lakeshore Press in the USA and can be ordered from here! The price is $14 plus postage.
Reet Järvik
