!!!Stifter, Adalbert

Stifter, Adalbert, b. Horní-Planá, Czech Republic 
(then Oberplan), Oct. 23, 1805, d. Linz (Upper Austria), Jan. 28, 
1868, writer, painter, educator. Son of a linen weaver and flax 
merchant; grew up in the beautiful landscape of the Bohemian Forest, 
the particular charm of which influenced his work throughout his life. 
After the fatal accident of his father 1817 the family encountered 
many difficulties, which led to a closer relationship between S. and 
his grandfather, who enabled him to attend the Kremsmuenster abbey 
school 1818. There he discovered his enthusiasm for literature, 
natural sciences and especially for painting. 1826 went to Vienna to 
study law at university, but broke off his studies 1830. 1837 married 
Amalie Mohaupt (1811-1883), milliner and daughter of a military 
officer. Struggled along as lecturer and tutor; publications in 
magazines and almanacs eventually brought him the longed-for 
recognition as a writer around 1840. 1848 moved to Linz and was 
appointed school inspector for primary schools in Upper Austria 1850. 
His idealistic advocacy of various educational reforms were frustrated 
by his opponents in the educational authority, which deprived him of 
his function as inspector of the secondary school "Linzer Realschule" 
1856. Was embittered by financial difficulties and disappointment 
about his childless marriage. 1863 fell ill with cirrhosis of the 
liver, which finally forced him into retirement 1865.

\\
S. called his early stories ´essays´ ("Der Condor", 1840; 
"Das Haidedorf", 1840; "Die Mappe meines Urgrossvaters", 1841; "Der 
Hochwald", 1842; "Brigitta", 1843); they were collectively published 
in six vols. (1844-1850); in a broad outline they reflect his view of 
nature and human beings, which was determined by humanitarianism and 
traditional educational ideals and which aimed at a poetic but 
scientific perception of reality. S. finally articulated these 
principles in the preface to his collection "Bunte Steine" (1853), in 
which he defined what he called the ´law of gentleness´ 
("sanftes Gesetz"): According to S., it has a permanent influence on 
all natural and social phenomena and is responsible for the priority 
of lasting and silently working effects over sudden changes and 
upheavals, "evolution always anticipates revolution". The Christmas 
story "Bergkristall" (1845) has become the best known tale out of 
"Bunte Steine". With his two great narrative stories "Der Nachsommer" 
(3 vols., 1857) and "Witiko" (3 vols., 1865-1867) he deliberately 
created a contrast to the contemporary novel of poetic realism, taking 
up Goethe´s conception of art and education. S.´s story 
"Der Nachsommer" forms a deliberate counterpoint to Goethe´s 
novel "Die Wahlverwandtschaften" and describes the course of a 
merchant´s son´s education and how he gradually acquires 
all characteristic features necessary for representing human dignity. 
"Witiko", set in Bohemia in the 12th century, is an attempt to show, 
by means of a historical example, that order and moral law cannot be 
prevented from being generally accepted even on a governmental level. 
his work was partly misunderstood or disapproved of by contemporary 
critics (e.g. F.  Hebbel) and only found acceptance with some delay.

!Further works
stories: Nachkommenschaften, 1864; Der Kuss von Sentze, 
1866; Der fromme Spruch, 1869. - Sketches: Wien und die Wiener in 
Bildern aus dem Leben, 1844. - Essays: Die Landschule, 1849; Ueber den 
geschnitzten Hochaltar in der Kirche zu Kefermarkt, 1853. - Editions: 
Briefe, ed. by J. Aprent, 3 vols., 1869; Hist.-krit. Ausgabe. 
saemtl. Werke, ed. by A. Sauer et al., 24 vols., 1901-1960; Gesammelte 
Werke, ed. by M. Stefl, 6 vols., 1939-1954; Unveroeffentlichtes 
von A. S., eg. by M. v. Sellner and L. Franz, 1940; 
Kulturpolit. Aufsaetze, ed. by W. Reich, 1948; Das erzaehlerische 
Werk, ed. by M. Gerken and F. Kroekel, 5 vols., 1949-1954; Die 
Schulakten A. S., ed. by K. Vancsa, 1955; Gesammelte Werke, 
ed. by K. Steffen, 14 vols., 1967-1972; Werke und Briefe. Hist.-krit. 
Gesamtausgabe, ed. by A. Doppler and W. Fruehwald, 1978ff.

!Literature
bibliography: E. Eisenmeier, A. S. Bibliographie, 
1964 (with sequels). - Complete depictions: M. Selge, A. S. 
Poesie aus dem Geist der Naturwiss., 1976; U. Naumann, A. S., 
1979; M. and E. Swales, A. S. A Critical Study, 1984; F. Baumer, 
A. S., 1989; A. Doppler, A. S. Landschaft, Schicksal und 
Geschichte, 1991; W. Matz, A. S. oder Diese fuerchterliche 
Wendung der Dinge, 1995. - Documentation: A. S. Schrecklich 
schoene Welt, ed. by J. Lachinger and M. Sturm, 1990. - Research 
reports: A. S. Schrecklich schoene Welt. Beitraege des internat. 
Kolloquiums zur A.-S.-Ausstellung Univ. Antwerpen 1993, ed. by R. 
Duhamel et al., 1994; H. Laufhuette (ed.), A. S. Neue 
Zugaenge zu seinem Werk, 1996.


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