Saar, Ferdinand Ludwig Adam von#
Saar, Ferdinand (Ludwig Adam) von, b. Vienna, Sept. 30, 1833, d. Vienna (suicide), July 24, 1906, narrative writer, playwright, poet. Born into an ennobled family of civil servants S. initially took up an officer´s career, which he gave up in 1860 in favour of writing. his first attempts at drama were, however, not successful (historical drama "Kaiser Heinrich IV.", 2 parts, 1865/67). Only when aristocratic patronesses (Franziska von Wertheimstein, etc.) began to support him financially in 1871 did S. have the necessary material basis for his work and henceforth lived alternately in Vienna and at Blansko Castle (Moravia); his marriage (1881) ended tragically with his wife´s suicide (1884). First collection of novellas ("Novellen aus Oesterreich", 1877) brought him wider acclaim, but he had his biggest success with "Wiener Elegien" (1893). 1890 awarded the Franz-Joseph order and in 1902 was called into the upper chamber of the Reichsrat. The last years of his life were overshadowed by illness and deep depression.
Along with M. von Ebner-Eschenbach, S. is the most important
realistic writer of narratives in Austrian literature from the end of
the 19th century; his novellas are characterised by humanist ethos and
critical analysis of contemporary society. a conservative and resigned
person by nature S. chronicles the fall of the aristocracy and the
military. In his poems ("Gedichte", 1882) and his stories ("Die
Steinklopfer", 1874) he vehemently criticises society. His books
"Schicksale" (1889) and "Tragik des Lebens" (1906) are a collection of
psychologically compelling character study and social description.
Further works#
novellas: Innocens, 1866; Marianne, 1873; Die Geigerin, 1875; Drei neue Novellen (Vae victis!, Der Exzellenzherr, Tambi), 1883; Frauenbilder, 1892; Herbstreigen, 1897; Nachklaenge, 1899 (poems and novellas); Camera obscura, 1901. - Dramas: Die beiden de Witt, 1875; Tempesta, 1881; Eine Wohltat, 1887. - Editions: Saemtl. Werke in 12 vols., ed. by J. Minor, 1908; F. v. S. Kritische Texte und Deutungen, ed. by K. K. Polheim, 1980ff.; Marie Fuerstin zu Hohenlohe und F. v. S.: Ein Briefwechsel, ed. by A. Bettelheim, 1910; Briefwechsel zw. F. v. S. und M. v. Ebner-Eschenbach, ed. by H. Kindermann, 1957.Literature#
K. K. Polheim (ed.), F. v. S. Ein Wegbereiter der literarischen Moderne, 1985; H. Klauser, Ein Poet in Oe. F. v. S., 1990; K. Rossbacher, Literatur und Liberalismus, 1992; K. Bergel (ed.), F. v. S. 10 Studien, 1995.