Rīga jeb ziņģe par Rīgu un viņas dzīvi

 

The book describes Riga, the capital of Latvia, during a significant period in its history. In the mid-19th century, the city was transformed from a medieval fortress surrounded by ramparts into a modern industrial, economic and cultural centre with a contemporary urban layout. The Riga Ballad is a figurative walk around the city, providing detailed descriptions of each location from the city centre to the outlying districts. It describes prominent buildings, streets and parks, as well as the inhabitants and their traditions. It also explains new technological innovations, thus educating its readers. The book is illustrated with ancient images from the 19th century, and contains a dictionary explaining archaic words, less common terms, and place names.

 

"The humorously drastic "RIGA or a Ballad about Riga and its Life” by Ernests Dinsbergs and Mārcis Reinbergs (1865) is a special text among written Latvian with a peculiar history of its creation and path to the reader. For the modern reader, for whom the image of Riga is associated mainly with the poetry of Aleksandrs Čaks, Ojārs Vācietis or Jānis Rokpelnis, the vitality of the ancient Riga Ballad will be a pleasant surprise."

– Ausma Cimdiņa

 

Unique design. Soft covers. Book in Latvian.

 

Editor: Ausma Cimdiņa.

Artist: Līga Delvere, Demini Ltd.