Silverwhite

Silverwhiteis a captivating exploration of theeastern Baltic nations earliest history andinteractions with peoples of the Mediterraneanand the Near East. This journey meticulouslyoutlines an answer to the true whereabouts ofThule, the unearthly northernmost land of ancientlegend.AlthoughSilverwhiteis grounded in classicalliterature and extensive historical, astronomicaland geographical fact, Lennart Meriforemost awriter and filmmakerweaves his travelogue withpoeticism. Whereas a professional historian mustshow caution when using fantasy to patch gapsbetween facts, a poet is untethered. This epic workcan also be read as a thriller: millennia ago, anenormous cosmic rock crashed into the Estonianisland of Saaremaa. Through this extraordinaryhistorical event, Meri brings together a curious castincluding ancient Greeks, Arabs and Estonians.All genuinely existed and met, even if their nameshave been lost to oblivion.When Meri wroteSilverwhite, Estonia wasoccupied; forced into the restrictions of SovietRussian colonialism. His work was a balm againstthat closed-minded and unnatural state, offeringthe unmistakable message that the world has neverbeen divided into isolated islands of civilisation.Nations, eternally interconnected, have alwaysshared knowledge and impacted one another incomplex ways. Openness is inherent.