Weinheber, Josef#

Weinheber, Josef, b. Vienna, March 9, 1892, d. Kirchstetten (Lower Austria, suicide), April 8, 1945. Poet, narrative writer, essayist. Began as a casual worker and 1911-1932 worked in the postal service. Studied classical poetry, from 1919 wrote for the "Muskete" journal, 1920 first volume of poetry "Der einsame Mensch", influenced by A. Wildgans, R. M. Rilke and K. Kraus. Member of the NSDAP from 1931 until its prohibition in 1933, in the hope that the National Socialists would further his artistic aims; friendship with M. Jelusich and R. Hohlbaum. Widely respected and considered one of the most significant poets of his time on account of the linguistic and formal perfection of his poems "Adel und Untergang" (1934); also highly popular collection of poems "Wien woertlich" (1935), written partly in Viennese dialect. In the years of National Socialist rule his work was mainly characterised by his view of the poet as a victim and by a heroic meta-physical stance. Later renewed his membership in the NSDAP, but was not accepted until 1944. Destroyed mentally and physically by alcohol, he committed suicide in his country house on the approach of the Red Army. Grillparzer Prize in 1941.

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Literature#