Batty Weber
Encyclopedia
Batty Weber (1860–1940) is considered to have been one of Luxembourg
's most influential journalists and authors, contributing much to the development of the country's national identity. His style is characterized by his sense of humour and skillful use of irony.
in south-western Luxembourg, he was the son of the local schoolmaster. The family soon moved to Stadtbredimus
on the Moselle where Weber spent much of his childhood. After attending the Athénée
in Luxembourg City
, he studied philology at the universities of Berlin and Bonn, developing an interest in the theatre.
Weber also began to write poems in Luxembourgish including "Dem Jabbo seng Kap" which is still popular in Luxembourg today. His once highly successful but now forgotten first novel "Fenn Kass, Roman eines Erlösten" draws on his schooldays in Luxembourg. It was serialized in the Kölnische Zeitung in 1912 before being published in book form the following year. While his novels were written in German, most of the numerous light-hearted plays from 1895 to 1922 were in Luxembourgish although "A Mondorf" (1900) and "Le couscous de la belle-mère" were in French.
In 1923, in connection with Dicks' 100th anniversary, he published his "Erënnerongen un den Dicks". Weber also did much to promote Luxembourg's budding cultural talents including authors such as Alex Weicker, Marie-Henriette Steil, Albert Hoefler and Emile Marx and the painters Joseph Kutter
, Harry Rabinger
, Jean Schaak and Nico Klopp
. One of Weber's most important contributions to Luxembourg's identity was his "Abreisskalender", a daily column he contributed from 1913 to 1940 to the "Luxembuger Zeitung", commenting on items of local cultural interest.
Batty Weber died in Luxembourg City on 14 December 1940.
, Luxembourg's national literary prize, has been awarded to a Luxembourg writer for his entire literary work.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
's most influential journalists and authors, contributing much to the development of the country's national identity. His style is characterized by his sense of humour and skillful use of irony.
Early life
Born on 25 November 1860 in RumelangeRumelange
Rumelange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France., the town of Rumelange, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 4,818. It is also the site of some of the underground iron mines no longer in operation...
in south-western Luxembourg, he was the son of the local schoolmaster. The family soon moved to Stadtbredimus
Stadtbredimus
Stadtbredimus is a commune and small town in south-eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher., the town of Stadtbredimus, which lies in the south-east of the commune, has a population of 676...
on the Moselle where Weber spent much of his childhood. After attending the Athénée
Athénée de Luxembourg
The Athénée de Luxembourg , is a high school in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It's commonly called Stater Kolléisch or De Kolléisch, and is the nation's oldest high school.-Brief history:...
in Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
, he studied philology at the universities of Berlin and Bonn, developing an interest in the theatre.
Career
After his studies, Weber started to work in Luxembourg's civil service administration, developing his skills as a stenographer. Not satisfied with administrative work, he began to contribute to newspapers publishing his first short story "Mein Freund Günther" in Luxemburger Land in 1883. He was soon contributing both news articles and short stories to newspapers at home and abroad. After "Wolf Frank" (1887) was published in the Luxemburger Zeitung, Weber began to contribute to the Escher Zeitung with "Bella Ghitta" (1889), his first story about the mining area of the south, followed by "Hart am Abgrund" (1890), "Der Amerikaner" (1891) and "Die Verderberin" (1891). In 1893, he became editor in chief at the Luxemburger Zeitung.Weber also began to write poems in Luxembourgish including "Dem Jabbo seng Kap" which is still popular in Luxembourg today. His once highly successful but now forgotten first novel "Fenn Kass, Roman eines Erlösten" draws on his schooldays in Luxembourg. It was serialized in the Kölnische Zeitung in 1912 before being published in book form the following year. While his novels were written in German, most of the numerous light-hearted plays from 1895 to 1922 were in Luxembourgish although "A Mondorf" (1900) and "Le couscous de la belle-mère" were in French.
In 1923, in connection with Dicks' 100th anniversary, he published his "Erënnerongen un den Dicks". Weber also did much to promote Luxembourg's budding cultural talents including authors such as Alex Weicker, Marie-Henriette Steil, Albert Hoefler and Emile Marx and the painters Joseph Kutter
Joseph Kutter
Joseph Jean Ferdinand Kutter is considered one of Luxembourg's most important painters. He was greatly influenced by the Impressionists but developed his own distinctive Expressionist style.-Early life:...
, Harry Rabinger
Harry Rabinger
Harry Rabinger was a Luxembourg artist who is remembered for his portraits and Expressionist landscape paintings, especially those of the industrial area in the south of the country.-Biography:...
, Jean Schaak and Nico Klopp
Nico Klopp
Nico Klopp was a Luxembourg painter remembered above all for his post-impressionist paintings of scenes on the River Moselle where he lived.-Early life:...
. One of Weber's most important contributions to Luxembourg's identity was his "Abreisskalender", a daily column he contributed from 1913 to 1940 to the "Luxembuger Zeitung", commenting on items of local cultural interest.
Batty Weber died in Luxembourg City on 14 December 1940.
Batty Weber Prize
Since 1987, the Batty Weber PrizeBatty Weber Prize
The Batty Weber Prize or Prix Batty Weber is Luxembourg's national literary prize. It has been awarded every three years since 1987 to a Luxembourg writer for his entire literary work...
, Luxembourg's national literary prize, has been awarded to a Luxembourg writer for his entire literary work.