Margins
Lange Schatten. book cover
Lange Schatten.
1960
First Published
4.19
Average Rating
196
Number of Pages
This collection of short stories, some semi-autobiographical, by Marie Luise Kaschnitz (1901-74), the eminent German novelist and poet, reflects many of the themes to be found throughout her fiction, such as the dread of moral anarchy which leaves nothing in its wake, and the shaping of individual destinies by loneliness, insecurity and fear.Usually told from a woman's viewpoint, her works feature strong female characters whose inner strength enables them to overcome their fears and accept their fates with stoic determination. Kaschnitz's chief concern is the human condition, giving her work a continuing relevance; she confronts such universal issues as growing old, growing up and the loss of religious faith as well as those which have a more contemporary resonance, including the social problems of working parents and adoption.
Avg Rating
4.19
Number of Ratings
26
5 STARS
38%
4 STARS
42%
3 STARS
19%
2 STARS
0%
1 STARS
0%
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Author

Marie Luise Kaschnitz
Marie Luise Kaschnitz
Author · 7 books

Marie Luise Kaschnitz (born Marie Luise von Holzing-Berslett; 31 January 1901 – 10 October 1974) was a German short story writer, novelist, essayist and poet. She is considered to be one of the leading post-war German poets. She was born in Karlsruhe. She married archaeologist Guido Freiherr Von Kaschnitz-Weinberg (the author of The Mediterranean Foundations of Ancient Art) in 1925, and travelled with him on archaeological expeditions. She received high praise for her short stories, many of which were inspired by events in her life, complemented by her personal reminiscences. These stories were collected in books such as Orte and Engelsbrücke. She enjoyed travel greatly and her tales make use of diverse settings. They are thoughtful in nature, rather than eventful, often dealing with particular stages in a woman's life or a relationship. Her main collection is Lange Schatten ("Long Shadows"). Her favorite story was 1961's "Das dicke Kind". Her post-war essay collection in Menschen und Dinge 1945 established her reputation in Germany. Her poems dealt with the war and the early post-war period, often expressing a yearning for a peaceful past, but also hope for the future. In the volume Dein Schweigen - meine Stimme she dealt with the death of her husband. After 1960 she became influenced by Pablo Neruda. She briefly taught poetics at the University of Frankfurt. She was a member of PEN. She won many prizes, including the Georg Büchner Prize in 1955 and the Roswitha Prize in 1973. She died, aged 73, in Rome. The Marie Luise Kaschnitz Prize is named in her honor. (from Wikipedia)

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