Walter Schmiele
Encyclopedia
Walter Schmiele was a German writer and translator.
“. He began living in Darmstadt in 1940.
After the 2nd World War, he worked as a freelance journalist and literary critic for many newspapers and radio stations. He wrote poetry and short stories (published in the Reclam-Anthology
„Deutsche Erzähler der Gegenwart“, (“German Contemporary Storytellers”) edited by Willi Fehse, 1960)and in the Penguin "Twentieth-Century German Verse" . Schmiele published essays und translated poetry and prose from the English language. His translation of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater
(„Bekenntnisse eines englischen Opiumessers“) von Thomas De Quincey
, first published in 1947 (Parzeller) was reissued by Goverts (1962), DTV (1965), Medusa (1982) and Insel (2009).
In the 1950s Walter Schmiele initiated the radio program „Vom Geist der Zeit“ (Spirit of Times) for the Hessischen Rundfunk
and contributed many scripts to the program. In 1951-1953, he was editor of the „Neue literarische Welt“. From 1956 to 1962, he was Secretary-General of the German P.E.N.-Centre, a position in which he organized the 1959 International P.E.N.-Congress (held in Frankfurt). His 1961 published Monography on Henry Miller
(rororo) was regularly reissued since then and was translated in various languages (among others in French, Japanese and Dutch). In 1990, Schmiele edited a collection of texts by Edschmidt in the e „Darmstädter Schriften“ series („Kasimir Edschmid, Essay – Rede – Feuilleton“).
Life
Schmiele grew up in Frankfurt am Main. He studied German literature, philosophy and history at the universities of Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Vienna and Rostock. Ph.D. in Frankfurt (Dissertation on Theodor Storm). Among his teachers were Friedrich Gundolf, Karl Jaspers, Paul Tillich, Karl Mannheim und Ernst Kantorowicz. Still a student, he began his freelance career for many newspapers. Between 1934 and 1941, he contributed more than 80 feature essays to the „Frankfurter ZeitungFrankfurter Zeitung
The Frankfurter Zeitung was a German language newspaper that appeared from 1856 to 1943. It emerged from a market letter that was published in Frankfurt...
“. He began living in Darmstadt in 1940.
After the 2nd World War, he worked as a freelance journalist and literary critic for many newspapers and radio stations. He wrote poetry and short stories (published in the Reclam-Anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
„Deutsche Erzähler der Gegenwart“, (“German Contemporary Storytellers”) edited by Willi Fehse, 1960)and in the Penguin "Twentieth-Century German Verse" . Schmiele published essays und translated poetry and prose from the English language. His translation of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater
Confessions of an English Opium-Eater
Confessions of an English Opium-Eater is an autobiographical account written by Thomas De Quincey, about his laudanum addiction and its effect on his life...
(„Bekenntnisse eines englischen Opiumessers“) von Thomas De Quincey
Thomas de Quincey
Thomas Penson de Quincey was an English esssayist, best known for his Confessions of an English Opium-Eater .-Child and student:...
, first published in 1947 (Parzeller) was reissued by Goverts (1962), DTV (1965), Medusa (1982) and Insel (2009).
In the 1950s Walter Schmiele initiated the radio program „Vom Geist der Zeit“ (Spirit of Times) for the Hessischen Rundfunk
Hessischer Rundfunk
Hessischer Rundfunk is the public broadcaster for the German state of Hesse. The main offices of HR are in Frankfurt am Main. HR is a member of the ARD.- Studios :...
and contributed many scripts to the program. In 1951-1953, he was editor of the „Neue literarische Welt“. From 1956 to 1962, he was Secretary-General of the German P.E.N.-Centre, a position in which he organized the 1959 International P.E.N.-Congress (held in Frankfurt). His 1961 published Monography on Henry Miller
Henry Miller
Henry Valentine Miller was an American novelist and painter. He was known for breaking with existing literary forms and developing a new sort of 'novel' that is a mixture of novel, autobiography, social criticism, philosophical reflection, surrealist free association, and mysticism, one that is...
(rororo) was regularly reissued since then and was translated in various languages (among others in French, Japanese and Dutch). In 1990, Schmiele edited a collection of texts by Edschmidt in the e „Darmstädter Schriften“ series („Kasimir Edschmid, Essay – Rede – Feuilleton“).
Personal Works
- 1946: Unvergessliches Gesicht. Fünf Prosastücke
- 1949: Englische Dichtung deutsch.
- 1953: Englische Geisteswelt
- 1954: Dichter über Dichtung
- 1961: Stefan George
- 1961: Henry Miller
- 1963: Die Milch der Wölfin
- 1963: Nietzsche: der gute Europäer
- 1963: Über Ernst Jünger
- 1963: Über Karl Jaspers
- 1963: Dandy und Provokateur
- 1963: Zwei Essays zur literarischen Lage
- 1964: Versuch einer Sinnbestimmung des modernen Irrationalismus
- 1966: Zur Geschichte der Utopie
- 1984: Poesie der Welt, Nordamerika
- 1985: Poesie der Welt, England
- 1990: Kasimir Edschmid, Essay - Rede – Feuilleton
- 2010: Mit wenigen Strichen. Porträts und Glossen
Translations
- 1948: John Keats, „Hyperion“
- 1949: „Englische Dichtung deutsch“, von Blake bis Yeats;
- 1947: De Quincey: „Bekenntnisse eines englischen Opiumessers“
- 1960: Ferlinghetti, „Sie“
Awards
- Lyrikpreis des Südverlags 1949
- Johann-Heinrich-Merck-Ehrung der Stadt Darmstadt 1970