!!!Trakl, Georg

Trakl, Georg, b. Salzburg, Feb. 3, 1887, 
d. Kraków (Poland), Nov. 3, 1914, poet. Grew up in Salzburg, 
where he attended grammar school between 1897-1905, then studied 
pharmacology in Vienna from 1908, connections to the "Akademischer 
Verband fuer Literatur und Musik", first poetry published in 
expressionist magazines. 1910 master of pharmacology, from 1912 in 
Innsbruck, publications in the fortnightly magazine published by 
L. von  Ficker "Der  Brenner". Financial support by L. Ficker and 
his wife, by K.  Kraus, A.  Loos and especially by L.  Wittgenstein. 
His close relationship to his sister Margarethe compounded his poor 
state of health, already weakened by excessive drug and alcohol abuse.

\\
At the beginning of World War I T. was drafted as reservist, after the 
bloody battle at Gródek (Galicia) he tried to commit suicide 
and died shortly afterwards at the garrison hospital. 1925 L. von 
Ficker had the body transferred to the Neuer Muehlauer cemetery at 
Innsbruck.

\\
T.´s poetic works (during his life only the volume "Gedichte" 
(1913) appeared as a separate publication) is akin to  Expressionism 
in the sensual force of his images and is characterized by a very 
melancholic disposition ("Alle Strassen muenden in schwarze Verwesung" 
- "all streets lead to black putridity"). It is marked by visions of 
gloomy colour and a melodiously rhythmical language; the motifs are 
taken from classical antiquity (Orpheus) and the imagery of 
Christianity, with the influence of Hoelderlin, Novalis, Nietzsche, 
Baudelaire and Rimbaud clearly detectable.

!Publications
Dichtungen und Briefe, annotated edition by W. Killy and 
H. Szklenar, 2 vols., 1969, 2nd revised edition. 1987; Werke und 
Briefwechsel, annotated facsimile edition by E. Sauermann and H. 
Zwerschina, 1993ff.

!Literature
O. Basil, G. T. in Selbstzeugnissen und 
Bilddokumenten, 1965; C. Saas, G. T., 1974; E. Sauermann, Zur 
Datierung und Interpretation von Texten G. T., 1984; H. 
Weichselbaum (ed.), T.-Forum 1987, 1988; H. Zwerschina, Die 
Chronologie der Dichtungen G. T., 1990; A. Doppler, Die Lyrik 
G. T., 1992; H. Weichselbaum, G. T., 1995; H.-G. Kemper 
(ed.), Gedichte von G. T., 1999.



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