Vanaema mõis

The novel, which placed fourth in the 1998 novel competition, begins its story in Estonia just before the Second World War. A fluent and engaging narrative takes the main character, Mati, from Estonia to Siberia; he ends up serving in both the Soviet and German armies, reunites with his fiancée who stayed in Estonia, and eventually returns to Russia. This is a true novel, featuring complex human relationships, love, and a historical backdrop.