Albert Steffen

Albert Steffen ( born December 10, 1884 in Wynau; † July 13, 1963 in Dornach ) was a Swiss writer and anthroposophist. After the death of Rudolf Steiner Steffen was in 1925, his successor as Chairman of the General Anthroposophical Society.

Life

Albert Steffen was born the third of six children of a country doctor. At age five he lost his older brother by two years. The primary school he attended in Wynau, the secondary school in Langenthal. At fourteen, he came to Bern, to pass the entrance examination in the secondary school; he fell through at first and only got into the quarters instead of the Tertia. He felt reset, ashamed and withdrew into solitude. His thoughts and feelings he confided to the diary - which he led until his death - and so began his literary activity. In 1904 he passed the Matura. In Lausanne, he studied from 1904 to the father, who wanted to give him his medical practice, medical request. In dealing with the study of medicine Steffen ran into an existential crisis, during which he decided to become a poet and to have a therapeutic effect by the word. He worked intensively with Nietzsche and Dostoevsky. In contrast, it did not satisfy the scientific study: "(...) the nature not delivered me ." In April 1905 he began studies humanities in Zurich, which he continued to Berlin in autumn 1906.

In Berlin, he sent his first novel Ott, Alois and Werelsche the Berlin publisher Samuel Fischer, who actually published it and thus made ​​known Steffen as the new Swiss poet. In 1907 he heard in Berlin the first lecture Rudolf Steiner personally barely four years later, however, he met in Munich, where he lived 1908-1920. Here also four other novels, all of which were published by S. Fischer Verlag emerged.

In his time in Munich, he joined the then headed by Steiner German Section of the Theosophical Society ( DSdTG ), an offshoot of the Theosophical Society Adyar ( Adyar -TG) at. The turn of the year 1912/13, brought the separation of DSdTG of the Adyar -TG and the founding of the Anthroposophical Society. Steffen followed the direction Steiner and was anthroposophist. In the summer of 1914 he worked at the building of the first Goetheanum with.

In Munich, Albert Steffen met the Polish painter Stanislaus piece of gold with his wife Elizabeth and the severely disabled daughter Felicitas know. 1920 Elisabeth piece of gold was accompanied by Albert Steffen to Dornach, to seek of Steiner Council for the daughter. There Steffen took over at the request Steiner, the editors of the newly founded weekly newspaper Das Goetheanum, which he retained until his death.

At the turn of 1923/24, appointed Albert Steffen Steiner as the Deputy Chairman of the General Anthroposophical Society. Because of the increasingly close connection with anthroposophy Steffens Steffens 's works were published in 1919 not by the S. Fischer Verlag, whereupon Steffen 1928 a publishing house, the publisher of nice Sciences founded.

1925, according to Rudolf Steiner's death, he was Chairman of the General Anthroposophical Society. In 1935, he married the widowed now Elisabeth piece of gold ( 1889-1961 ).

In June 1946, he published with the National Emil Anderegg an appeal to the Swiss people with the requirement make the Switzerland within the meaning Henri Dunant a politically neutral " oasis of humanity" to.

In 1951 he received a prize from the Swiss Schiller Foundation for his novel From George Archibald's resume and posthumous works.

Albert Steffen died on 13 July 1963 at the age of 79 years. His estate is managed by Albert Steffen Foundation in Dornach.

Assessment of his literary creation

Unlike the lyrical work of Christian Morgenstern, the most famous poet in the early history of the Anthroposophical Movement, is Albert Steffens literary creation, even in his major works, on the outskirts of anthroposophy hardly (more) known. He is, despite his extensive oeuvre of the forgotten Swiss poets of the 20th century, along with about Alfred Fankhauser, Siegfried Lang and Otto Wirz.

Its literary quality is controversial among experts. During his work of German scholars such as Walter Muschg or Fritz Strich and the Austrian philologist Friedrich Hiebel - anthroposophist and friend Steffens - was seen as an essential part of literary innovations within the 20th century, Emil Ermatinger evaluated his early seals as " delicate flowers of a pure -minded soul " his later, however, as "artificial glass flowers whose bright transparency not the riddles of life, but the common teachings of a religious sect opens up " .. Others put in his works " often enough ( ... ) figures without individual life, so mere allegories " from.

In addition, has Steffens stage play The Fall of the Antichrist - in addition to individual poems - experienced by the setting of the composer Viktor Ullmann a certain popularity. After the re-release of this mystery play in 1995 in Bielefeld, it has been neuinszeniert 2008 by the Theater Greifswald.

Works

Original editions

Novels ( and novel -like works )

  • Ott, Alois and Werelsche, S. Fischer, Berlin 1907
  • Determination of brutality, S. Fischer, Berlin 1912
  • The renewal of the covenant, S. Fischer, Berlin 1913
  • The right lover of fate, S. Fischer, Berlin 1916
  • Sibylla Mariana, S. Fischer, Berlin 1917
  • Life story of a young man, Arts and Humanities, Dornach 1928
  • Wildeisen, Dornach 1929
  • Seeker after himself, Dornach 1931
  • From George Archibald's resume and posthumous writings, Dornach 1950
  • Oasis of humanity, Dornach 1954
  • Altmann's memoirs from the hospital, Dornach 1956
  • Mission of poetry, Dornach 1962

Dramas

  • The Exodus from Egypt - The Manicheans. Two dramas, S. Fischer, Berlin 1916
  • The four animals. Drama in six acts, Seldwyla, Zurich 1924
  • Hiram and Solomon. Tragedy in nine images, Dornach 1925
  • The Chief of the General Staff. Drama in five acts, Dornach 1927
  • The Fall of the Antichrist. Dramatic Sketch in three acts, Dornach 1928 opera by Viktor Ullmann processing ( stage consecration festival in 3 acts, 1935 UA 1995 Bielefeld).
  • The death experience of the Manes. Drama in five acts, Dornach 1934
  • Adonis Game / A Fall Celebration, Dornach 1935
  • Peace tragedy. In five acts, Dornach 1936
  • Travel to the other country. Drama in a prologue and seven scenes, Dornach 1938
  • Pestalozzi. Drama, Dornach 1939
  • Reputation on the edge. Drama, Dornach 1943
  • Martyrs. Tragedy, Dornach 1944
  • Caroline of Günderrode. A tragedy from the period of German romanticism, Dornach 1946
  • Barrabas. Drama in four acts, Dornach 1949
  • Alexander conversion. Drama in five acts, Dornach 1953
  • Lin. Drama, Dornach 1957

Volumes of poetry

  • Viaticum, Rhine, Basel 1921 ( extended Dornach 1927)
  • Poems, Dornach 1931
  • The Comforter, Dornach 1935
  • Passiflora / A Requiem for Felicitas, Dornach 1939
  • Awake, You Sleepers death! , Dornach 1941
  • Epoch, Dornach 1944
  • Selected Poems, ed. v. Walter Muschg, Basel 1945
  • Spätsaat, Dornach 1947
  • At the crossroads of fate, Dornach 1952
  • Sickness is not unto death, Dornach 1955
  • Get on the Parnassus and look, Dornach 1960

Essays

  • The crisis in the life of the artist, Seldwyla, Bern 1922
  • The artist between West and East, Grethlein, Zurich 1925
  • The artist and the fulfillment of the mysteries, Dornach 1928
  • Encounters with Rudolf Steiner, Grethlein, Zurich 1926 ( extended Dornach 1955)
  • Mani / His life and teaching, Dornach 1930 ( extended Dornach 1965)
  • Goethe's spirit form, Dornach 1932 ( extended Dornach 1970)
  • Dramatic contributions to the fine arts, Dornach 1935
  • Life portrait of Pestalozzi, Dornach 1939 ( extended Dornach 1965)
  • Conrad Ferdinand Meyer's living form, Dornach 1937 ( extended Dornach 1965)
  • Frührot the mysteries seal, Dornach 1940
  • Spiritual home, Dornach 1941
  • Crisis, catharsis, therapy in the intellectual life of the present, Dornach 1944
  • Vanguard of the Spirit, Dornach 1945
  • Rebirth of the fine arts, Dornach 1946
  • Mysteries flight, Dornach 1948
  • Knowledge of the spirit / God's Love, Dornach 1949
  • One of the stained glass windows of the Goetheanum, Dornach 1953
  • Burning problems, Dornach 1956
  • Poetry as a way of initiation. On the 100th birthday of Rudolf Steiner, Dornach 1960

Memories, sketches and miniatures

  • Bauz. Two stories, Huber ( = Swiss Narrator 6), Frauenfeld / Leipzig in 1916
  • The saint with the fish. Seven short stories, S. Fischer, Berlin 1919
  • Small myths Seldwyla, Zurich 1923
  • Pilgrimage to the tree of life, Seldwyla, Zurich 1925
  • In Memoriam Rudolf Steiner, Hoenn, Battle 1925 Country
  • Turning point in life, Dornach 1931
  • Wish Book, Dornach 1937
  • Book retrospect, Dornach 1938
  • Self-knowledge and life events, Dornach 1940
  • On Mental Because, Dornach 1942
  • The genius of death, Dornach 1943
  • Novellas, Dornach 1947
  • From the portfolio of a spiritual seeker, Dornach 1951
  • Commemorative photos for Elisabeth Steffen. Ghost memories. Wallet with watercolor reproductions, Dornach 1961
  • Life pictures on the gate of death. Sketches and miniatures. Wallet with watercolor reproductions, Dornach 1963

Translation

  • In the other country - in another country. Poems mutually translated by Albert Steffen and Percy MacKaye, Dornach 1937

As editor

  • The Instructor, Dr. Rudolf Steiner's Goetheanum in 1921 (together with Walter Johannes Stein ), Verlag am Goetheanum, Dornach 1922 Reprint in: Anthroposophic Pedagogy ( = Introduction to anthroposophical themes 1), ed. v. Joseph Morel, Novalis / Phil. - Anthr. Verlag, Schaffhausen and Dornach 1983

From the estate

All works were published posthumously, edited by Albert Steffen Foundation, Dornach.

  • In the dying rise again. Poems, 1964
  • In memory of Otto Rennefeld. Reminders of the poet friend and hints at his life's work. Essays, 1965
  • Dante and the present. Essays, 1965
  • Present tasks of mankind. Views of the work of the Anthroposophical Society. Essays, 1966
  • Christmas images. Wallet with three essays and seven colored watercolor reproductions, 1966
  • Spirit Awakening in color experience. Observations, sketches, memories. With twelve colored watercolor reproductions, 1968
  • About the germ reason of the Mystery Dramas of Rudolf Steiner. Essays, 1971
  • The message of Novalis. Essays, 1972
  • Training the Mind and community building. Essays and speeches, 1974
  • Travel diary. Observations and memories. Sketches and watercolors, 1978

Werkausgabe

  • Selected Works in four volumes. On the 100th birthday of the poet hg. by Manfred Krüger, Dornach / Stuttgart 1984
Samuel von Fischer Henry Dunant The Complete Works Herbert Witzenmann Peter Selg Theaterlexikon der Schweiz Integrated Authority File
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