Heiti Talvik's father was a family doctor based in
Tartu and his mother was a pianist. In 1923 he left the school early and initially sought work in
oil shale mining at
Kohtla-Järve. During that time he wrote poetry which was published in the literary magazine
Looming (
Creation), then edited by
Friedebert Tuglas. In 1926 he completed his study at a
gymnasium (secondary school) in
Pärnu. After his graduation he studied at the Philosophical Faculty of the
University of Tartu from 1926 to 1934. After 1928, Talvik dedicated himself more and more to poetry. In 1934, after the publication of the poetry collection
Palavik (
Fever), he became one of the most famous Estonian poets and a member of the writers group
Arbujad (
Shaman). The circle included the poet
Betti Alver, who married Talvik in 1937. With the
occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union, Heiti Talvik was deported to
Siberia in May 1945, never to be heard of again. He probably died in July 1947 as a consequence of the deportation, the location of his grave being unknown. == Poetry collections ==