Luitpold, Josef eigentlich J. L. Stern#
b. Vienna, April 16, 1886, d. Vienna, Sept. 13, 1966, worker poet. Social-democratic educational politician, journalist. Former editor-in-chief of the publications "Der Strom" and "Gluehlichter"; reformed the worker's library in Vienna and from 1926 to 1934 was Principal of the Vienna Doebling Workers' College. Had to take refuge in Czechoslovakia in 1934, in 1938 went to France, 1940 to the USA, returned to Austria and from 1948 to 1954 was Principal of the Worker's College in Weinberg (Upper Austria) as well as from 1954 to 1959 responsible for education at the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (OeGB). He was known as a poet (mostly ballads), his traditionalist and formally strict poetry resulted in controversy with K. Kraus and T. Kramer. Translated African-American poetry ("Afrika singt", Africa sings, 1929). Austrian State Prize for Adult Education in 1958.
Works#
Poetry: Herz im Eisen, 1917; Die Rueckkehr des Prometheus, 1927 (ballads); Die neue Stadt, 1927. - Kantaten und Spiele: Die Stunde der Befreiung, 1927; Das Klagenfurter Fackelspiel, 1927. -Die oeffentl. Buecherei, 1936 (essays); dramas, narratives. - Editions: Das J.-L.-Buch, ed. by A. Zohner, 1948; Freiheit steigt aus dunkler Nacht. Begegnung mit einem Dichter, ed. by A. Zohner, 1961; Das Sternbild. Collected Works: 5 vols., 1964-1966.Literature#
C. Stifter (ed.), J. L. Stern, 1994; NDB.