Mell, Max#
b. Maribor, Slovenia (then Marburg), Nov. 10, 1882, d. Vienna, Dec. 12, 1971, dramatist, narrative writer, poet, essayist; son of Alexander Mell, brother of Maria Josefa Mell. Studied German in Vienna and later worked as a free-lance writer. After early aesthetic narratives devoted himself to popular-realistic subjects. His dramatic pieces are influenced by nativity plays, religious festivals and old myths to which he grafted nationalist ideas (material from Nibelung saga). Awards include Grillparzer Prize 1929 and 1940, Peter Rosegger Prize 1952, Grand Austrian State Prize 1954, Austrian Decoration for Science and Art 1959.
Works#
Mystery plays: Das Apostelspiel, 1923; Das Schutzengelspiel, 1923; Das Nachfolge-Christi-Spiel, 1927. - Dramas: Die Sieben gegen Theben, 1932; Das Spiel von den Ahnen, 1935; Der Nibelunge Not, 2 parts, 1942/1951; Jeanne d'Arc, 1956. - Prose: Barbara Naderers Viehstand, 1914; Das Donauweibchen, 1938. - Poetry. - Edition: Gesammelte Werke, 4 vols., 1962.Literature#
NDB.