Franz Fühmann

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Franz Fühmann

Franz Fühmann (1973)
Born (1922-01-15)15 January 1922
Rochlitz an der Iser/ Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Czechoslovakia
Died 8 July 1984(1984-07-08) (aged 62)
East Berlin, East Germany
Occupation writer
Nationality German
Citizenship East German
Period since 1953
Genres short stories, essays, Children's literature
Notable award(s) Heinrich Mann Prize
1956
National Prize of East Germany
1957 and 1974
Deutscher Kritikerpreis
1977
Geschwister-Scholl-Preis
1982

Franz Fühmann (15 January 1922 – 8 July 1984) was a German writer. He lived and worked as a short story writer, essayist and children's book author in East Germany. Influenced by Nazism in his youth he became a supporter of socialism after the war, which he increasingly criticised later on, and with which he was disappointed bitterly in his later years.

Life

Franz Fühmann was born as son of an apothecary in Rochlitz an der Iser (Rokytnice nad Jizerou) in the Karkonosze in Czechoslovakia. After the Volksschule, he attended the Jesuitenkonvikt Kalksburg near Vienna for four years from which he fled in 1936. He subsequently attended the Gymnasium in Reichenberg (Liberec) in northern Bohemia. He took his Abitur in Vrchlabí. After the annexation of the Sudetenland by Germany, he joined the Reiter-SA.

He was drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1941 and was a communications soldier in the operations in Greece and the Soviet Union. He was under Soviet captivity in 1945 and sent to a communist rehabilitation school in Noginsk near Moscow.

Fühmann returned from Soviet captivity to East Germany where he lived the rest of his life in Märkisch Buchholz and Berlin. He entered the National Democratic Party of Germany which was one of the so-called Bloc parties. He was active as a culturally political employee in the party machinery until 1958. In 1972 he resigned from the party.

Since 1952, he was a freelance writer until his death.

Besides his own writing activity, Fühmann remained active in the field of cultural policy. He provided patronage to many young writers and spoke for those who suffered under the repression by the East German state. In 1976 he was among the first to sign a protest letter against the expatriation of Wolf Biermann.

Franz Fühmann received the 1956 Heinrich Mann Prize, the 1957 and 1974 National Prize of East Germany, the 1977 Deutscher Kritikerpreis and the 1982 Geschwister-Scholl-Preis. He received more national and international awards and was a member of the Akademie der Künste.

Work

Fühmann's work is wide ranging. It includes poems, interpretive translation of Czech and Hungarian poems, books for children and young adults, essays, rich narrative work, and unusual literary pursuits such as a ballet (Kirke und Odysseus) and a collaboration with a photographer (Was für eine Insel in was für einem Meer) on people with Mental retardation. Fühmann also compiled a volume of poems by rearranging parts of a rhyming dictionary and furnishing it with headings.

Writing literature for children and young people was an important part of Franz Fühmann's work all his life. He published his first children's book fulfilling a wish of his daughter Barbara. Amongst his numerous other children's books are Fairy tales, puppet plays, books which deal with German language and play with it (Lustiges Tier-ABC, Die dampfenden Hälse der Pferde im Turm von Babel) and numerous re-narrations of classical literature and sagas (Reineke Fuchs, Das Hölzerne Pferd (Iliad and Odyssey), Prometheus. Die Titanenschlacht). In addition to that Fühmann corresponded with many of his young readers. Thus "ordered works" (Märchen auf Bestellung) came into being.

Fühmann left a considerable narrative work. His early short stories are often autobiographical. In the compilation Das Judenauto, he describes patterns inspired by memories from his childhood and youth. Later on, he intensively dealt with the Nazi Era and his own involvement. The concept of "change" (in his case from a supporter of Nazism to a dedicated Socialist) and the possibility of change was especially important for Fühmann. These themes play a great roll in Zweiundzwanzig Tage oder Die Hälfte des Lebens, which is one of Fühmann's main works. It is conceived as a diary of a trip to Hungary and contains some spare narratives.

In his work, Fühmann placed emphasis on fairly tales, sagas and myths. This preoccupation penetrates many of his books from his children's books to his short stories (Das Ohr des Dionysios) and his essays. With his essays, Fühmann also facilitated the publication of authors whose work had scarcely appeared in East Germany like Georg Trakl and Sigmund Freud.

Beginning with Zweiundzwanzig Tage, Fühmann set forth increasing criticism of the socialist society of East Germany. In numerous letters and (later on) public speeches, he attempted to convince East German politicians to change their policies in the domain of culture. This attitude became more and more apparent in his work, especially in Saiäns-fiktschen. He withdrew from his connections to cultural politics in East Germany like the Schriftstellerverband der DDR (Writer's Union of East Germany) and the Akademie der Künste. In his later life, he began to despair of the political conditions in East Germany. His correspondence with Christa Wolf (Monsieur – wir finden uns wieder) clearly reflected this state of mind. As a consequence he was not able to finish his long planned magnum opus to which he referred in his letters and notes as "Bergwerksprojekt". It appeared 1993 posthumously under the title Im Berg with the subtitle (added by himself) "Fragments of a Failure".

A quote from his testimonial a year before he died reads:

I have cruel pains. The bitterest is that to have failed: In the literature and in the hopes for a society as we all once dreamt it.

The Academy of the Arts in Berlin has taken care of Fühmann's literary estate. His work library consisting of roughly 17,000 volumes (with many notes and underlinings) is part of the Historische Sammlungen of the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin.

Fühmann's work still fascinates young artists like Barbara Gauger who even today promotes his work. As well the Franz Fühmann Freundeskreis Märkisch Buchholz/Berlin testifies of the far extent of his work.

Bibliography

Children and Youth literature

  • Die Suche nach dem wunderbunten Vögelchen (The Search for the Wonderfully Colored Little Bird). Short story. Der Kinderbuchverlag, Berlin 1960
  • Lustiges Tier-ABC (Merry Animal Alphabet). Lyrical poem. Der Kinderbuchverlag, Berlin 1962
  • Das hölzerne Pferd: die Sage vom Untergang Trojas und von den Irrfahrten des Odysseus. Nach Homer und anderen Quellen neu erzählt (The Wooden Horse: The Saga of Troy's Decline and the Wandering of Odysseus. New Narrative from Homer and Other Sources). Neues Leben, Berlin 1968
  • Shakespeare-Märchen (Shakespearean Fairy Tales). Nacherzählung. Der Kinderbuchverlag, Berlin 1968
  • Prometheus. Die Titanenschlacht (Prometheus. The Titanian Battle). Novel. Der Kinderbuchverlag, Berlin 1974
  • Die dampfenden Hälse der Pferde im Turm von Babel (The Steaming Necks of the Horses in the Tower of Babel). Sprachspielbuch. Der Kinderbuchverlag, Berlin 1978. Reprint: Hinstorff Verlag, Rostock 2005
  • Schlipperdibix und Klapperdibax!. Two Clown Pieces. Hinstorff Verlag, Rostock 1985, 2nd Edition 1989
  • Märchen auf Bestellung (Ordered Fairy Tales). Edited by Ingrid Prignitz. Hinstorff, Rostock 1990

Poems and Nachdichtung

  • Die Fahrt nach Stalingrad (The Trip to Stalingrad). Poem. Aufbau, Berlin 1953
  • Die Richtung der Märchen (The Direction of Fairy Tales). Lyrikband. Aufbau, Berlin 1962
  • Miklós Radnóti: Ansichtskarten (Picture Postcards). Nachdichtungen. Volk und Welt, Berlin 1967

Narrative Prose

  • Kameraden (Comrades). Novella. Aufbau, Berlin 1955
  • Kabelkran und blauer Peter (Cable Crane and Blue Peter). Report. Hinstorff, Rostock 1961
  • Böhmen am Meer (Bohemia by the Sea). Novella. Hinstorff, Rostock 1962
  • Das Judenauto (The Jewish Car). Short stories. Aufbau, Berlin 1962
  • Barlach in Güstrow. Short story. Hinstorff, Rostock 1963
  • König Ödipus (King Oedipus). Collected short stories. Aufbau, Berlin 1966
  • Zweiundzwanzig Tage oder Die Hälfte des Lebens (Twenty Two Days or Half the Life). Diary. Hinstorff, Rostock 1973
  • Der Geliebte der Morgenröte (The Lover of Aurora). Short stories. Hinstorff, Rostock 1978
  • Saiäns-fiktschen. Short stories. Hinstorff, Rostock 1981
  • Kirke und Odysseus. Ballet. Hinstorff, Rostock 1984
  • Das Ohr des Dionysios (The Ear of Dionysus). Posthumous short stories. Edited by Ingrid Prignitz. Hinstorff, Rostock 1985

Essay Prose

  • Das mythische Element in der Literatur (The Mythical Element in Literature). Lecture. Revised and Expanded Edition in: Erfahrungen und Widersprüche. Versuche über Literatur (Experiences and Contradictions. Essays about Literature). Hinstorff, Rostock 1975
  • Vor Feuerschlünden. Erfahrung mit Georg Trakls Gedicht (From the Fiery Jaws. Experience with Georg Trakl's Poetry). Essay, Briefe und Lyrik hrsg. von F. Fühmann. Hinstorff, Rostock 1982
  • Meine Bibel; Erfahrungen (My Bible: Experience). Essay. In supplement to Luther's "Biblia". Reclam, Leipzig 1983

Other literary forms

  • Was für eine Insel in was für einem Meer. Leben mit geistig Behinderten (What kind of Island in what kind of sea. Life with Retarded People). With Photographs by Dietmar Riemann. Hinstorff, Rostock 1985
  • Die Schatten. Hörspiel (The Shadows. Radio Play). Edited by Ingrid Prignitz. Hinstorff, Rostock 1986
  • Urworte. Deutsch. Aus Steputats Reimlexikon (Primitive Words. German. From Steputat's Rhyming Dictionary). Edited by Ingrid Prignitz. Hinstorff, Rostock 1988
  • Alkestis. Libretto. Edited by Ingrid Prignitz. Hinstorff, Rostock 1989

Compilations from the Estate

  • Im Berg. Texte aus dem Nachlaß (In the Mountain. Texts from the Estate). Edited by Ingrid Prignitz. Hinstorff, Rostock 1991
  • Prometheus. Die Zeugung (Prometheus. The Procreation). Edited by Sigurd Schmidt. Hinstorff, Rostock 1996
  • Das Ruppiner Tagebuch (The Ruppin Diary). Hinstorff, Rostock 2005

Letters

  • Briefe. 1950-1984. Eine Auswahl (Letters. 1950-1984. A Selection). Edited by Hans-Jürgen Schmitt. Hinstorff, Rostock 1994
  • Monsieur - wir finden uns wieder. Briefe 1968-1984 (Monsieur - we Find Ourselves Again). Correspondence with Christa Wolf. Edited by Angela Drescher. Aufbau, Berlin 1995
  • Margarete Hannsmann: Protokolle aus der Dämmerung. 1977-1984. Begegnungen und Briefwechsel zwischen Franz Fühmann, Margarete Hannsmann und HAP Grieshaber (Protocols from the Dawn. 1977-1984. Meetings and Correspondences between Franz Fühmann, Margarete Hannsmann and HAP Grieshaber). Hinstorff, Rostock 2000
  • Briefe aus der Werkstatt des Nachdichters. Mitgeteilt vom Adressaten Paul Kárpáti (Letters from the Workplace of the Nachdichter. Communicated by the Addressee Paul Kárpáti). Engelsdorfer Verlag/ Argumentum Kiadó, Leipzig/Budapest 2007

Work Editions

  • Autorisierte Werkausgaben in Einzelbänden. Hinstorff, Rostock 1977-1988
    • Erzählungen 1955–1975. 1977
    • Gedichte und Nachdichtungen. 1978
    • Das Judenauto, Kabelkran und Blauer Peter, Zweiundzwanzig Tage oder Die Hälfte des Lebens. 1979
    • Irrfahrt und Heimkehr der Odysseus, Prometheus, Der Geliebte der Morgenröte und andere Erzählungen. 1980
    • Reineke Fuchs, Märchen nach Shakespeare, Das Nibelungenlied, Märchen auf Bestellung. 1981
    • Essays, Gespräche, Essays 1964–1981. 1983
    • Vor Feuerschlünden. Erfahrung mit Georg Trakls Gedicht. 1984
    • Simplicius Simplicissimus, Der Nibelunge Not und andere Arbeiten für den Film. 1987
    • Unter den PARANYAS. Dream Experiences and Notations. 1988

Filmography

Films which are based on Franz Fühmann's works or for which he wrote the script

  • Betrogen bis zum jüngsten Tag (Deceived until Judgement Day) - 1957, Director: Kurt Jung-Alsen (with Rudolf Ulrich and Wolfgang Kieling) from the novella Kameraden
  • Die heute über 40 sind - 1960, Director: Kurt Jung-Alsen (with Rudolf Ulrich), Script: Franz Fühmann
  • Der Schwur des Soldaten Pooley (The Oath of Soldier Pooley) - 1962, Director: Kurt Jung-Alsen, Script: Franz Fühmann
  • Die Suche nach dem wunderbunten Vögelchen - 1964, Director: Rolf Losansky (with Lieselott Baumgarten and Fred Delmare) from children's story of the same title
  • Köpfchen Kamerad - 1965, Director: Otto Holub (with Fred Delmare), Script: Franz Fühmann
  • Der verlorene Engel (The Lost Angel) - 1966, Director: Ralf Kirsten from the novella Das schlimme Jahr
  • Das Geheimnis des Ödipus (The Secret of Oedipus) - 1973/74, Director: Kurt Jung-Alsen, Script: Franz Fühmann
  • Der Fall Ö. - 1991, Director: Rainer Simon (with Matthias Habich and Jan Josef Liefers) from the story "König Ödipus"

Literature

  • Arne Born: Fühmanns Offener Brief vom November 1977. Ein Postulat und seine Unterdrückung. Mit unveröffentlichten Schriftstücken(Fühmann's Public Letters from November 1977. A Postulate and his Oppression. With Unpublished Writings.). In: Berliner Hefte zur Geschichte des literarischen Lebens (Berlin Journal of the History of Literary Lives) 3 (2000), p. 81-115.
  • Franz Fühmann. Es bleibt nichts anderes als das Werk (It remained no different as Work). Ausstellungskatalog. Akademie der Künste, Berlin 1993.
  • Barbara Heinze (ed.): Franz Fühmann: eine Biographie in Bildern, Dokumenten und Briefen (Franz Fühmann: A Biography in Pictures, Documents and Letters). Foreword by Sigrid Damm. Rostock: Hinstorff Verlag, 1998.
  • Hans Richter: Franz Fühmann. Ein deutsches Dichterleben (Franz Fühmann. A German Poet's life). Berlin: Aufbau Verlag, 1992.
  • Robinson, Benjamin. The Skin of the System: On Germany's Socialist Modernity. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 2009.
  • Christian Sachse: Der schwarze Stoff, aus dem die Wahrheit ist. Franz Fühmann auf der Suche nach seiner Wahrheit (The Black Stuff from which the Truth is. Franz Fühmann on the Search for his Truth). In: Zeitschrift des Forschungsverbundes SED-Staat (Journal of the SED State Research Union) Nr. 15/2003.
  • Horst Simon (Editor): Zwischen Erzählen und Schweigen. Ein Buch des Erinnerns und Gedenkens. Franz Fühmann zum 65.. (Between Stories and Silence. A Book of Memories and Memorials. Franz Fühmann to 65.) Hinstorff, Rostock 1987 (contains an extensive biography, which also considers contributions in newspapers and literature about Fühmann as well as reviews of his work)
  • Irmgard Wagner: Franz Fühmann. Nachdenken über Literatur (Franz Fühmann. To Think About Literature). Carl Winter Universitärsverlag, Heidelberg 1989.

External links

This article incorporates information from the revision as of July 19th, 2008 of the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.
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