Handke, Peter#
b. Griffen (Carinthia), Dec. 6, 1942, author and translator, also film author and director. Broke off his studies of law in Graz (1961-1965), after the success of his work "Die Hornissen" ("The Hornets") in 1966. After living alternately in Austria, Germany, France and the USA (1978/1979) H. lived in Salzburg from 1979-1988, and since then in France and Salzburg.
Through his early works H. became an important representative of
linguistically experimental literature who showed "that literature is
created by language and not by the things described by language". As a
result his works show a marked criticism of traditional literary forms
like poetry, prose and drama and thus criticism of the reader's and
audience's expectations ("Publikumsbeschimpfung", 1966). H. turned
against direct social criticism in literature contrasting this with
his critical approach to language. Later his development as an author
was marked by a return to traditional narration ("Wunschloses
Unglueck", 1972; "Der Chinese des Schmerzes", 1983; "Die
Wiederholung", 1986), especially by an analysis of the works of A.
Stifter, with whom he was also often compared. In his essay "Eine
winterliche Reise zu den Fluessen Donau, Save, Morawa und Drina oder
Gerechtigkeit fuer Serbien", written in 1996, and his play "Die Fahrt
im Einbaum oder Das Stueck zum Film vom Krieg" (1999), Handke pleads
for the cause of Serbia in the Balkan War. Awards: Georg Buechner
Prize 1973, Kafka Prize 1979, Cultural Prize of the Province of
Carinthia 1983, Grillparzer Prize 1983, Grand Austrian State Prize
1987 and others. There has been a H. archive in Griffen since 1996.
Further works#
Novels and prose: Der Hausierer, 1967; Die Innenwelt der Aussenwelt der Innenwelt, 1969; Die Angst des Tormanns beim Elfmeter, 1970; Der kurze Brief zum langen Abschied, 1972; Falsche Bewegung, 1975; Die Stunde der wahren Empfindung, 1975; Die linkshaendige Frau, 1976; Das Gewicht der Welt, 1977; Die Geschichte des Bleistifts, 1982; Nachmittag eines Schriftstellers, 1987; Versuch ueber die Muedigkeit, 1989; Versuch ueber den geglueckten Tag, 1991; Versuch ueber die Jukebox, 1991; Abschied des Traeumers vom 9. Land, 1991; Langsam im Schatten. Gesammelte Verzettelungen 1980-1992, 1992; Mein Jahr in der Niemandsbucht, 1994; In einer dunklen Nacht ging ich aus meinem stillen Haus, 1997; Unter Traenen fragend. Nachtraegliche Aufzeichnungen von zwei Jugoslawien-Durchquerungen im Krieg, Maerz und April 1999, 2000. - Dramas: Kaspar, 1968; Der Ritt ueber den Bodensee, 1970; Die Unvernuenftigen sterben aus, 1973; Ueber die Doerfer, 1981; Das Spiel vom Fragen oder Die Reise zum sonoren Land, 1989; Die Stunde da wir nichts voneinander wussten, 1992; Zuruestung fuer die Unsterblichkeit, 1997. - Poetry: Das Ende des Flanierens, 1980; Gedicht an die Dauer, 1986; Gedichte, 1987. - Translations, radio plays, essays.Literature#
R. Fellinger (publisher), P. H., 1985; A. Haslinger, P. H. Jugend eines Schriftstellers, 1992; M. Maier (ed.), Die Geographie des Menschen. Gespraeche mit P. H. und anderen, 1993; T. Deichmann, Noch einmal fuer Jugoslawien: P. H., 1998.