Born in 1938 in the vicinity of Riga, Bels became a professional writer of prose books and film scripts in 1964 and made his debut in 1966 with a collection of short stories.

His novel "Cilvēki laivās" (People in boats) was a great success. The novel is set in the mid-19th century on the Curonian Spit, in the Prussian village of Schwarzort, which is undergoing a strong relocation effort. The Curonians still living there have preserved their language and customs, but the colonial regime has had an impact on language and cultural changes. The plot of the novel follows the principles of the allegorical novel and reveals the workings of the colonisation system in a parable.

Alberts Bels died on 11 June, 2024.