Sigitas Geda


Sigitas Geda was a Lithuanian poet, translator, playwright, essayist, critic and a member of the Lithuanian independence movement, Sąjūdis, and of the Lithuanian parliament, Seimas.

Life

Early life

Sigitas Geda was born in the village of Paterai, in the Lazdijai district of Lithuania, to Zigmas Geda and Aleksandra Gedienė. He was the fourth of seven children.

Education and career

Geda studied history and philology at Vilnius University. His collection Pėdos was published in 1966. He was also a leading figure in the Movement for the Support of Perestroika or Sąjūdis. For a time Geda withdrew from public life in the independent Lithuania because of his dislike of corruption and infighting.
Geda's poetry has been translated into English by Kerry Shawn Keys.

Awards