Andrus Kivirähk (born 17 August 1970) is an Estonian author, playwright, screenwriter, and satirist. He writes across genres for both adults and children, including satirical columns and screenplays. Many of his stories have been adapted into films. A number of his works have also been translated into multiple languages. Kivirähk has received awards in children's literature in Estonia and internationally. He often mixes elements of dark humor, Estonian folklore, fantasy, and social commentary in his writing.
As of 2004, his novel Rehepapp ehk November (Old Barny or November) had sold 25,000 copies, making him the most popular Estonian writer of the 21st century. His book The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu, 2007) has been one of the top-selling books in Estonia. He is known for his children's series Lotte, Oskar and the Things, and Sirli, Siim ja saladused (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets). His works Lotte and Rehepapp ehk November have been adapted for the screen.
He was born in Tallinn on August 17, 1970. His mother, Ingrid Kivirähk (née Kasesalu, 1931–2024), was a puppeteer and actor at the Estonian Puppet Theatre (Nukuteater). His father, actor and theatre director Ants Kivirähk, died when he was fifteen. He grew up with an older brother, Juhan Kivirähk, a sociologist.
He graduated from Tallinn 32nd Secondary School in 1988. He continued his education at the University of Tartu, where he studied journalism. As a schoolboy, he got paid five-rouble money orders for his short stories, which he picked up from the Press House on Pärnu Road. He graduated from university in 1993.
While studying journalism at Tartu University, he continued to work with Pikker. During his fourth year at university, he joined the cultural department of the daily newspaper Eesti Päevaleht. It was here, from 1992 to 1993, that the character he is most well-known for, Ivan Orav, was written. Kivirähk developed stories about Orav by drawing on chapters from a contemporary history textbook and reimagining the events through Orav's distorted and humorous perspective. He has contributed weekly satirical columns to Eesti Päevaleht and many of his books first appeared in the newspaper before becoming books.
His early humor writing used clichés, exaggerations, intentionally integrated strange elements, and wordplay to draw attention to and to poke fun at societal and political problems. These techniques later influenced his satirical writing and journalism. Kivirähk's writing style was heavily inspired by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald. His writing contains folk-oriented humour found similar to that in the works of Oskar Luts. The focus on national issues he integrates into his writing is also similar to the writing of Anton Hansen Tammsaare. He also shares elements of dark humour and social allegory similar to the satire and magical realism of Mikhail Bulgakov. The novel inspired a 2001 stage play, a 2013 opera, and the 2017 film adaptation November, directed by Rainer Sarnet. His 2007 fantasy novel The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu) explores the decline of ancient Estonian culture.
Kivirähk's work has created space for modern Estonian fiction based on traditional stories and folklore. Kivirähk's reclamation of satire in the genre of folklore has been credited by scholars, such as Piret Noorhani, as representing a form of postmodernist national literature that uses tactics from comedy, like irony and parody, to both critique national identity and revive it. By subverting traditional categories and beliefs, his writing brings folklore out of the historical record and allows it to be reinterpreted. His work often contains elements of examining the past and memory. Many of his characters gain empathy for the past throughout their interactions.
Kivirähk is also a children's author, with over a dozen published children's books.His 1999 book Sirli, Siim ja saladused explores loneliness and dream worlds. The Lotte series began with Lotte reis lõunamaale (2002) and continued with Leiutajateküla Lotte (2006). He also wrote Sibulad ja šokolaad [Onions and Chocolate] in 2002.
Kivirähk's work has gained international recognition, with his writings translated into over 20 languages.
He has been a member of the Estonian Writers' Union (in Estonian: Eesti Kirjanike Liit) since 1996.
Since 1995, Kivirähk has co-hosted the satirical weekly radio show, Rahva Oma Kaitse (The People's Own Defense), on the Raadio 2 channel of Estonian public broadcaster ERR alongside Mart Juur. The weekly live broadcast provides commentary on domestic and international politics. The show celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025. The weekly program combines journalism with comedic takes on current events. The show broadcasts live every Tuesday at 19:00 with replays on Sundays at 12:00.
Kivirähk has written several plays and screenplays. He often writes plays with absurd humor. As with his other work, it often engages with Estonian history. He debuted with Vanamehed seitsmendalt in 1992. In 2000, he wrote and directed Papagoide päevad at the Estonian Drama Theatre. He adapted his novel Rehepapp for the stage in 2001. Other works include Adolf Rühka lühikene elu (2005) and Voldemar (2007), directed by Merle Karusoo.He wrote and directed Köster at the Tallinn City Theatre in 2016. Recent plays include Kaarnakivi perenaine (2017) and Isamaa pääsukesed (2018).
Kivirähk co-wrote the screenplay for the animated feature Lotte from Gadgetville (2006) with directors Heiki Ernits and Janno Põldma. He also wrote scripts for Lotte ja kuukivi saladus (2011) and Lotte ja kadunud lohed (2019). In 2023, he wrote and appeared in the hybrid film Kaka, kevad ja teised. In television, he wrote the comedy mini-series Vabariigi valvur (1994–1995).
Andrus Kivirähk has received recognition for his contributions to Estonian literature, drama, and journalism. He has earned both domestic and international awards throughout his career. His literary work was honored by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, and he has received the state's prestigious Order of the White Star, fifth class. Internationally, his novel The Man Who Spoke Snakish gained significant traction. In France, he won the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire in 2014. He also had multiple nominations for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in the field of children's literature. He has received recognition for his work from the general public with his recurring success in the Nukits Competition, in which Estonian children vote for their favorite authors. He was the winner of the reader-nominated award in the Nukits Competition in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
Kivirähk is married to journalist and translator Ilona Martson (also known as Ilona Kivirähk). She is the editor-in-chief of the children's magazine Täheke. They have three daughters: Kaarin, Liisa, and Teele. Their first grandchild was born in March 2024. Their eldest daughter is art critic and curator, Kaarin Kivirähk.
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