Polgar, Alfred#
b. Vienna, Oct. 17, 1873, d. Zurich (Switzerland), April 24, 1955, critic, writer and translator. Started as an editor for parliamentary and law issues on the Viennese paper "Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung" and was soon renowned as a theater critic and feature writer who combined humour and social criticism in a polished language. Friend of S. Grossmann and E. Friedell, wrote sketches for the satirical revue "Fledermaus" ("Goethe", 1908; "Soldatenleben im Frieden", 1908; "Musteroperette", 1910). After World War I P. lived mainly in Berlin and wrote for the Berlin paper "Berliner Tagblatt" and the Prague paper "Prager Tagblatt". 1933 escaped with his wife from National Socialists to Prague and 1940 to the USA, where he worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the film business. After World War II P. returned from exile, which had caused him mental torment, to Europe, settled down in Zurich and wrote again for various German language newspapers.
Further works#
Der Quell des Uebels und andere Geschichten, 1908; Bewegung ist alles, 1909; Hiob, 1912; Kleine Zeit, 1919; Max Pallenberg, 1921; Gestern und heute, 1922; An den Rand geschrieben, 1926; Orchester von oben, 1926; Ja und Nein, 4 vols., 1926-1927; Ich bin Zeuge, 1927; Schwarz auf Weiss, 1929; Hinterland, 1929; Bei dieser Gelegenheit, 1930; Der unsterbliche Kaspar, 1930; Die Defraudanten, 1931; Ansichten, 1933; In der Zwischenzeit, 1935; Sekundenzeiger, 1937; Handbuch des Kritikers, 1938; Geschichten ohne Moral, 1943; Im Voruebergehen, 1947; Begegnung im Zwielicht, 1951; Standpunkte, 1953; Im Lauf der Zeit, 1954; Fensterplatz, 1959; Im Vorueberfahren, 1960; Bei Lichte betrachtet, 1970; Die lila Wiese, 1977; Taschenspiegel, 1979; Sperrsitz, 1980. - Edition: Kleine Schriften, ed. by M. Reich-Ranicki and U. Weinzierl, 6 vols., 1982-1986.Literature#
E. Hartl, Der Weise aus dem Cafe, 1983; U. Weinzierl, K. Kraus und A. P., 1978; U. Weinzierl, A. P., 1985.