Vaino Vahing

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 Estonian Writers Union.

Vaino Vahing in 2006.

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

Vaino Vahing has written many articles about psychiatry, but also literature – novels, books and plays with psychiatric and autobiographical influence. He has played 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

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

References

• Estonica Literature:The Fifties and Sixties