!!!Kraus, Karl

b. Jičín, Czech Republic (then Gitschin), April 28, 1874, 
d. Vienna, June 12, 1936; essayist, poet, dramatist; wrote 
aphorisms. Son of a Jewish merchant and manufacturer, studied law and 
philosophy at the University of Vienna, then turned to acting and 
reciting. First known as a vehement critic of the group  Jung-Wien 
("Die demolirte Litteratur", 1897), founded the literary and political 
review  Fackel, Die " in 1899, of which he was sole author from 1911. 
His committed criticism of the destruction of cultural tradition, 
false ideology and the use of language was aimed especially at the 
untruthful, sensationalist press, at the complacent Austrian middle 
class ("Sittlichkeit und Kriminalitaet", 1908) at unscrupulous 
warmongering, as well as at all forms of ethically or aesthetically 
questionable literature ("Literatur und Luege", 1929. Was an advocate 
of the works of J.  Nestroy, J. Offenbach and W. Shakespeare 
(translated some of his dramas and sonnets). Had a personal and 
intellectual affinity to P.  Altenberg and A.  Loos. In his epochal 
satirical drama "Die letzten Tage der Menschheit" (1918/19) he 
denounced war for its inhumanity by using quotations by eminent 
personalities. Also noted for his famous recitations and lectures 
based on his own works or by other authors and became the recognized 
moral and artistic authority of his time.

!Further works
Essays: Die Chinesische Mauer, 1910; Nestroy und die 
Nachwelt, 1912; Weltgericht, 2 vols., 1919; Untergang der Welt durch 
schwarze Magie, 1922; Dritte Walpurgisnacht, 1934. - Aphorisms: 
Sprueche und Widersprueche, 1909; Pro domo et mundo, 1912; Nachts, 
1919. - Dramas: Wolkenkuckucksheim, 1923; Traumtheater, 1924. - Poetic 
works: Worte in Versen, 9 vols., 1916-1930. - Editions: Werke, ed. by 
H. Fischer, 14 vols., 2 suppl. vols., 1954 and 1970; Die Fackel, 
39 vols., 1 suppl. vol., 1968-1977 (reprint); ed. by C. 
Wagenknecht in 20 vols., 1986-1991.

!Literature
N. Wagner, Geist und Geschlecht, K. K. und die Erotik 
der Wr. Moderne, 1982; S. P. Scheichl and E. Timms, K. K. in 
neuer Sicht, 1986; K. Krolop, Sprachsatire als Zeitsatire bei 
K. K., 1987; P. Schick, K. K., %%sup 11/%1999; W. Welzig 
(ed.), Woerterbuch der Redensarten zu der von K. K. 1899 bis 1936 
hg. Ztschr. Die Fackel, 1999; NDB.


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