Ingeborg Drewitz
Encyclopedia
Ingeborg Drewitz was a German writer.
Drewitz graduated in 1941 from the Königin-Luise-Schule in Berlin-Friedenau, and took a degree in German literature, history, and philosophy, followed by a doctorate on 20 April 1945, at the Friedrich-Wilhelm University (today's Humboldt University in Berlin). Her thesis was on German poet Erwin Guido Kolbenheyer
.
As a writer, she was interested in the Enlightenment
and addressed Germany's post-war history and the past and present social history of women. According to Knaurs Lexikon der Weltliteratur ( "Knaur's Lexicon of World Literature"), third edition of 1995, she "made in her literary work, the abandonment of modern man and his inability to address his neighbour, as well as the problem of the individuality of life. Problems in women and employment are at the heart of her work."
Her drama Alle Tore waren bewacht ( "All gates were guarded")), which premiered in 1955, was the first German play to address conditions in concentration camps. Her most successful novel was Gestern war heute: Hundert Jahre Gegenwart ( "Yesterday was today: A hundred years of presence") (1978), that dealt with three generations of women in the 20th Century.
From 1973 to 1980 she taught at the Institute of Journalism at the Free University of Berlin
. A year before her death she was a juror at the Ingeborg Bachmann Competition in Klagenfurt.
She married her childhood sweetheart Bernhard Drewitz, by whom she had three daughters. She died of complications of cancer.
Drewitz graduated in 1941 from the Königin-Luise-Schule in Berlin-Friedenau, and took a degree in German literature, history, and philosophy, followed by a doctorate on 20 April 1945, at the Friedrich-Wilhelm University (today's Humboldt University in Berlin). Her thesis was on German poet Erwin Guido Kolbenheyer
Erwin Guido Kolbenheyer
Erwin Guido Kolbenheyer was an Austrian novelist, poet and playwright. Later based in Germany, he belonged to a group of writers that included the likes of Hans Grimm, Rudolf G...
.
As a writer, she was interested in the Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
and addressed Germany's post-war history and the past and present social history of women. According to Knaurs Lexikon der Weltliteratur ( "Knaur's Lexicon of World Literature"), third edition of 1995, she "made in her literary work, the abandonment of modern man and his inability to address his neighbour, as well as the problem of the individuality of life. Problems in women and employment are at the heart of her work."
Her drama Alle Tore waren bewacht ( "All gates were guarded")), which premiered in 1955, was the first German play to address conditions in concentration camps. Her most successful novel was Gestern war heute: Hundert Jahre Gegenwart ( "Yesterday was today: A hundred years of presence") (1978), that dealt with three generations of women in the 20th Century.
From 1973 to 1980 she taught at the Institute of Journalism at the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
. A year before her death she was a juror at the Ingeborg Bachmann Competition in Klagenfurt.
She married her childhood sweetheart Bernhard Drewitz, by whom she had three daughters. She died of complications of cancer.
Honours
- 1963 Ernst-Reuter Prize
- 1970 Georg Mackensen Literary Prize
- 1973 Federal Cross of Merit
- 1980 Ida-Dehmel-Literature Prize, Carl von Ossietzky Medal
- 1981 Gerrit Engelke Price
- 1983 Evangelischer Book Prize
- 1985 Hermann-Sinsheimer Prize
Street names
- In the government quarter in Berlin-Mitte: Ingeborg-Drewitz-Allee
- In Berlin-Steglitz: Ingeborg-Drewitz-Library
- In Gladbeck: Ingeborg-Drewitz-Gesamtschule
- In Freiburg: Ingeborg-Drewitz-Allee
Prize foundations
- Ingeborg-Drewitz Literary Prize for prisoners
- Ingeborg-Drewitz Prize for special commitment to human dignity
Sources
This article was translated from its equivalent in the German Wikipedia on 18 July 2009.- Bruges Gerhild man Rogers: The novel factory by Ingeborg Drewitz. New York ua: Lang, 1989, 246 p. ISBN 0-8204-0715-1
- Titus Häussermann, Drewitz Bernhard (ed.): Ingeborg Drewitz: materials to work and work. Stuttgart: Radius-Verl., 1983, 160 p. ISBN 3-87173-639-2
- Jutta Rosenkranz: Short portrait of the writer Ingeborg Drewitz. TV feature for the ORB, 1998
External links
- Link to the University Library of the Free University of Berlin