!!!Bernhard, Thomas

b. Cloister Heerlen (Netherlands), Feb. 9, 1931, 
d. Gmunden (Upper Austria), Feb. 12, 1989, dramatist, novelist, poet. 
Spent most of his childhood with his maternal grandparents (his 
grandfather was the writer J.  Freumbichler) in Vienna and Seekirchen 
am Wallersee in the province of Salzburg. After his mother´s 
marriage the family moved to Traunstein (Bavaria), then to Salzburg. 
1949 B. contracted an incurable lung disease, 1949-1951 hospitalised 
in Grafenhof tuberculosis sanatorium (autobiographical works: "Ein 
Kind", 1982; "Die Ursache", 1975; "Der Keller", 1976; "Der Atem", 
1978; "Die Kaelte", 1981; a compilation of these five works published 
in English under the title "Gathering Evidence", 1985). On his 
discharge from the sanatorium studied music at the Mozarteum in 
Salzburg and in Vienna (1957 diploma from the Mozarteum) and worked as 
legal correspondent for the local newspaper Demokratisches Volksblatt. 
1957 published the collection of poetry "Auf der Erde und in der 
Hoelle"; further collections of poetry followed. 1963 published his 
first novel "Frost", which drew a bleak picture of Austrian provincial 
life. From 1965 lived mainly on his farm in Ohlsdorf (Upper Austria). 
Along with his tragicomic outlook on life, death, illness and human 
misery, perpetual criticism of Austria is an important hallmark of all 
his works, whether autobiographical novels, fiction prose or plays. 
Especially his play "Heroes Square" ("Heldenplatz", 1988), an 
indictment of anti-Semitism in contemporary Austria, cemented his 
reputation as a severe and ruthless critic of his own country. 1967 
Austrian State Prize. 1970 Buechner Prize.

\\
In his will he decreed that no further performances of his plays 
(apart from those produced by C.  Peymann at the Burgtheater), no 
reprints or public readings of his works were to take place in 
Austria. Since the establishment of the Thomas Bernhard Foundation in 
1998 his heirs have decided to disregard this part of his will.

!Further works
Poetry: Unter dem Eisen des Mondes, 1958; In hora 
mortis, 1958. - Prose: Amras, 1964; Gargoyles (Verstoerung, 1967); The 
Lime Works (Das Kalkwerk, 1970); Concrete (Beton, 1982); Ancient 
Masters (Alte Meister, 1985); Extinction (Ausloeschung, 1986). - 
Dramas: Ein Fest fuer Boris, 1970; Der Praesident, 1975; Minetti, 
1976; Ueber allen Gipfeln ist Ruh, 1981; Ritter, Dene, Voss, 1984; Der 
Theatermacher, 1985. Edition: Gesammelte Gedichte, ed. by V. Bohn, 
1991.

!Literature
W. Schmidt-Dengler, Der Uebertreibungskuenstler, 
%%sup 2/%1989; B. Sorg, T. B., %%sup 2/%1992; H. Hoeller, 
T. B. in Selbstzeugnissen und Bilddokumenten, 1993; W. 
Schmidt-Dengler (ed.), T. B., 1997; A. Pfabigan, T. B., 
1999; J. Hoell, T. B., 2000.



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