Book about Kaucminde Manor to be Presented in Saulaine
On July 23, the book "Kaucmindes pakavs" by publicist Andris Grīnbergs will be unveiled at Kaucminde Manor, celebrating the history and revival of this cultural heritage site.
A celebratory event will take place on Thursday, July 23, at 3 PM at Kaucminde Manor in Saulaine, Rundāle Parish, to present the book "Kaucmindes pakavs" (The Horseshoe of Kaucminde) by publicist Andris Grīnbergs. According to Antra Lācberga, marketing project manager at publisher Latvijas Mediji, this is the author's tenth book dedicated to the long-neglected but now revived Latvian cultural heritage pearl.
The book launch will first be held on Tuesday, July 21, at 1 PM at the Latvian Academy of Sciences in Riga. Following the presentation in Kaucminde, another event will take place on Friday, July 31, at 4 PM at the Jēkabpils People's House.
The book's title is complemented by the motto "How strong the Latvian within me," while the Kaucminde event carries the motto "White Rose Girls – Risen Again!" as shared by manor owner Aiva Dreimane-Ozolzīle.
Literary scholar Janīna Kursīte notes that this book is a song of praise, unlike many others focused on criticism. She emphasizes that Kaucminde was a pre-war Latvian gem that has tarnished over time, and this book may inspire efforts for restoration.
Built by the Palēns family, the Kaucminde Manor house housed a home economics school between the world wars, which in 1944 became the Saulaine Agricultural Technical School and later a state farm technical school. Andris Grīnbergs describes the manor's decline from a family residence to near ruin and the hope for restoration, particularly focusing on the period when girls were trained as skilled Latvian housewives.
The book was published with support from Bauska Municipality and the Zemgale Historical Land Cultural Program of the State Culture Capital Foundation. The author is a journalist who has worked for newspapers and Latvian Radio.
