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Franz WerfelAustrian poet, novelist and playwright.
Date of Birth: 10.09.1890
Country:  Austria |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Literary Influences
- War and Marriage
- Political Upheaval
- American Citizenship and Legacy
Early Life and Career
Franz Werfel was an Austrian poet, novelist, and playwright born into an affluent Jewish family. He attended gymnasium (secondary school) where he forged friendships with Franz Kafka and Max Brod. In 1911-1912, Werfel completed his military service.
Literary Influences
During this time, Werfel became a key figure in Viennese Expressionism. He encountered influential writers such as Karl Kraus and Rilke. On the eve of World War I, he co-founded a pacifist society with Martin Buber and Max Scheler.
War and Marriage
From 1915 to 1917, Werfel served in the Austrian army on the Russian front. In 1929, he married Alma Mahler, a prominent cultural figure in Austria.
Political Upheaval
In 1938, after the Anschluss (Nazi annexation of Austria), Werfel fled to France. In 1940, he and his wife, along with Heinrich Mann, his wife, and Thomas Mann's son, escaped from Nazi-occupied France to Spain, Portugal, and eventually the United States.
American Citizenship and Legacy
Werfel became an American citizen in 1941. He left behind a vast literary legacy, including acclaimed works such as "The Star of the Unborn" and "Jacobowsky and the Colonel." His works continue to be celebrated for their depth, lyricism, and enduring themes of human existence and the search for meaning amid turmoil.
