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Friedrich GlauserSwiss writer, wrote in German.
Date of Birth: 04.02.1896
Country:  Switzerland |
Content:
- Friedrich Glauser: A Swiss Writer on the Edge
- Encounter with Dadaism
- Foreign Legion and Psychiatric Struggles
- Wandering and Legal Troubles
- Writing in Psychiatric Clinics
- Love, Emigration, and Tragedy
- A Master of Crime Fiction
- Influence and Legacy
Friedrich Glauser: A Swiss Writer on the Edge
Early Life and EducationFriedrich Glauser was born in 1896 to a Swiss father and an Austrian mother. His mother passed away in 1900, and his father remarried and relocated to Mannheim, Germany in 1911. Glauser's education was troubled, with several academic setbacks and an expulsion from school.
Encounter with Dadaism
In 1916, Glauser briefly studied chemistry in Zurich, where he became acquainted with the Dadaist movement. This encounter sparked an interest in the unconventional and the irrational.
Foreign Legion and Psychiatric Struggles
In 1921, Glauser enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, serving in Morocco until 1923. During this period, he developed a morphine and opium addiction and encountered the harsh realities of military life.
Wandering and Legal Troubles
After his military service, Glauser embarked on a nomadic existence, traveling across Europe and pursuing journalism. His drug addiction and mental health issues led to several arrests and incarcerations.
Writing in Psychiatric Clinics
Glauser's mental health struggles continued, and he spent extensive time in psychiatric hospitals. Notably, he began writing his famous "Wachtmeister Studer" detective novels while a patient at the Waldau hospital.
Love, Emigration, and Tragedy
In 1932, Glauser met Bertha Bendel, a nurse at the Münsingen psychiatric clinic. They emigrated to France in 1936 and later to Italy in 1938. On the eve of their scheduled wedding, Glauser fell into a coma due to acute poisoning. He died in this state, possibly from a drug overdose or other complications.
A Master of Crime Fiction
Glauser's novels are renowned for their incisive portrayal of society's outcasts and their struggles with violence and injustice. His "Wachtmeister Studer" series, featuring a lone detective solving intricate crimes, established him as a pioneer of German-language detective fiction.
Influence and Legacy
Glauser's work influenced numerous writers, including Friedrich Dürrenmatt. In Switzerland, the Friedrich Glauser Prize is awarded annually to recognize outstanding detective novels. His writings continue to be widely read and appreciated for their dark insights into the human condition.
