!!!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.

!Further works
Poetry: Von beiden Ufern, 1923; Boot in der Bucht, 
1926; Vereinsamtes Herz, 1935; O Mensch, gib acht!, 1937; 
Selbstbildnis, 1937; Zwischen Goettern und Daemonen, 1938; chamber 
music, 1939; Dokumente des Herzens, 1944; Hier ist das Wort, 1947. - 
Novel: Das Waisenhaus, 1924. - Editions: Complete works, publ. by J. 
Nadler and H. Weinheber, 5 vols., 1953-1956; Complete works, 
publ. by F. Jenaczek, 1970-1996.

!Literature
F. Feldner, J. W., 1965; A. Berger, Goetter, Daemonen 
und Irdische: J. W. dichterische Metaphysik, in: Oe. Literatur 
der 30er Jahre, publ. by K. Amann and A. Berger, 1985; J. W., 
exhibition catalogue, St. Poelten 1992; A. Berger, J. W. 
(1892-1945) - Leben und Werk, 1999.


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