Vaino Vahing

Vaino Vahing in 2006.

Vaino Vahing (15 February 1940, in Aravu, Põlva County – 23 March 2008, in Tartu), was an Estonian writer, prosaist, psychiatrist and playwright. Starting from 1973, he was a member of the Estonian Writers Union.

Education and career

• 1963 – University of Tartu, Faculty of Medicine
• 1969 – Doctor of medicine
• 1963–1965 – head of department and deputy of the doctor-director at the psycho-neurological clinic in Jämejala
• 1965–1967 – doctor at the Tartu psychiatry clinic
• 1967–1975 – expert in forensic psychiatry
• 1968–1981 – lecturer and later docent at the Institute of Psychiatry of the University of Tartu

Vahing has written many articles about psychiatry, but also literature, including novels, books and plays with psychiatric and autobiographical influences.

He has acted in several Estonian films.

List of works

• Lugu (Perioodika 1970)
• Kaemus (Eesti Raamat 1972)
• Sina (Perioodika 1973)
• E me ipso (Eesti Raamat 1990)
• Kaunimad jutud (Ilmamaa 1995)
• Thespis (Ilmamaa 1997)
• Machiavelli kirjad tütrele (Eesti Raamat 1990)
• Mängud ja kõnelused (Eesti Keele Sihtasutus 2002)
• Hermaküla
• Noor Unt (Perioodika 2004)
• Vaimuhaiguse müüt (Ilmamaa 2005)
• Näitleja (Vagabund 2006)
• Päevaraamat I (2006)
• Päevaraamat II (2007)

Honors

• Estonian White Cross, fourth category

Personal

Vahing was married to writer Maimu Berg and actress Heli Vahing. From his marriage with Berg he had a daughter, Julia Laffranque, former justice in the Supreme Court of Estonia and current European Court of Human Rights judge.

References

• Estonica Literature:The Fifties and Sixties