Rein Sepp (April 23, 1921 – 1995) was an esteemed Estonian writer, poet, and translator. He is best known for his translations of ancient Germanic epics into Estonian. His notable works include translations of the “Poetic Edda” (1970), “Nibelungenlied” (1977), “Parzival” (1989), “Beowulf” (1990), and selections from the “Prose Edda” (1990).
Sepp’s studies at the University of Tartu were interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the German army. After spending time in a Soviet prison camp in Siberia, he dedicated himself to translating various works from Old Icelandic, German, and English. His translations are praised for their accuracy and poetic quality.
In addition to epic translations, Sepp translated works by Goethe, Schiller, Shakespeare, and Blake, among others. He also authored science fiction and received several literary and translation awards in Estonia.
Rein Sepp spent the last decades of his life in his country home in Ipiki Village, where he continued his literary work.