Urs Widmer Swiss writer Date of Birth: 21.05.1938 Country: Switzerland

Biography of Urs Widmer

Urs Widmer, the renowned Swiss writer and translator, was born in Basel, Switzerland in 1938. He was the son of Walter Widmer, a Swiss translator, professor, and esteemed literary scholar. Widmer's childhood home often welcomed a frequent guest, the famous German writer Heinrich Böll.

Widmer pursued his education at the universities of Basel, Montpellier, and Paris, where he studied German language and history. In 1966, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on post-war German prose. After completing his studies, Widmer began working in publishing, initially in Switzerland. However, he later relocated to Germany and lived in Frankfurt from 1967 to 1984. During this time, he contributed to literary publications and served as a professor of German literature at the University of Frankfurt.

Widmer's literary career took off with the publication of his first work, 'Alois', in 1968. Overall, he wrote more than thirty novels and fifteen plays, which were staged in various German-speaking theaters. Widmer's novels are known for their complexity and psychological depth, and they have been translated into multiple languages worldwide. One of his most famous works is 'Der Geliebte der Mutter' ('The Lover of My Mother'), a poignant love story where the main character spends her entire life loving a famous musician who remains indifferent to everything except his music. This novel has been hailed as 'subtle,' 'sensitive,' and 'profound,' and it played a significant role in solidifying Urs Widmer's popularity beyond his native Switzerland.

In 1984, Widmer returned to Switzerland, where he got married and had a daughter. He became a prominent figure in the country's literary scene, serving as a member of the Academy for German Language and Literature in Darmstadt, the German Academy of Performing Arts in Bensheim, and the Academy of Arts in Berlin.

Urs Widmer passed away at the age of 75 in Zurich on April 4, 2014, after battling a prolonged illness. His literary legacy includes novels, plays, radio plays, essays, literary translations, articles, and lectures.