Alfred Andersch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred Andersch
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| Born | 4 February 1914 |
| Died | 21 February 1980 (aged 66) Berzona, Ticino, Switzerland
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Alfred Hellmuth Andersch (born February 4, 1914 – died February 21, 1980) was a German writer, publisher, and radio editor. He was born in Munich, Germany, and later passed away in Berzona, Switzerland. His brother, Martin Andersch, was also a writer.
Contents
Life Story
Alfred Andersch's parents were Alfred and Hedwig Andersch. His school teacher was Joseph Gebhard Himmler, who was the father of Heinrich Himmler. Alfred Andersch later wrote about this in his book The Father of a Murderer.
Early Years and World War II (1914-1945)
In 1930, after learning to be a bookseller, Alfred Andersch became a youth leader. He joined the Communist Party. Because of this, he was held in the Dachau concentration camp for six months in 1933. After his release, he left the party.
During this time, he became very interested in the arts. He adopted a way of thinking called innere Emigration, or "internal emigration." This meant he stayed in Germany but secretly opposed Hitler's government.
In 1940, Andersch was forced to join the German army, known as the Wehrmacht. However, he left the army in Italy on June 6, 1944. He was then held in prisoner-of-war (POW) camps in the United States. While in the camps, he became the editor of a newspaper for prisoners called Der Ruf (The Call).
Some people, like the writer W. G. Sebald, later questioned how Andersch presented his life during this difficult period. They felt he made his actions sound more acceptable after the war.
After the War (1945-1980)
After returning to Germany in 1945, Alfred Andersch worked as an editing assistant. He helped with a newspaper called Neue Zeitung in Munich. From 1946 to 1947, he worked with Hans Werner Richter to publish a monthly magazine called Der Ruf. This magazine was sold in the American zone of Germany. However, the U.S. military government stopped its publication.
In the years that followed, Andersch worked with a group of writers called Group 47. Famous authors like Ingeborg Bachmann and Hans Magnus Enzensberger were also part of this group. In 1948, Andersch wrote an essay titled "Deutsche Literatur in der Entscheidung." In it, he said that literature would be very important for changing Germany after the war.
Starting in 1948, Andersch became a leading figure at radio stations in Frankfurt and Hamburg. In 1950, he married the painter Gisela Dichgans.
His autobiographical book, Die Kirschen der Freiheit (The Cherries of Freedom), came out in 1952. In this book, Andersch wrote about leaving the army during the war. He saw it as a moment when he truly felt free. In 1957, he published one of his most important works, Sansibar oder der letzte Grund (published in English as Flight to Afar). Some of Andersch's books were even made into films.
From 1958, Andersch lived in Berzona, Switzerland. He even became the mayor there in 1972. After Sansibar, he wrote other novels like Die Rote (1960) and Efraim (1967). In 1974, he published Winterspelt, which was similar to Sansibar but more complex. In 1977, he published a collection of poems.
Alfred Andersch passed away on February 21, 1980, in Berzona, Switzerland. An unfinished story called Der Vater eines Mörders (The Father of a Murderer) was published after his death.
Main Ideas in His Works
Alfred Andersch helped people understand the issues of his time after the war. In his books, he often wrote about people who felt like outsiders. He explored his own political and moral experiences. A key idea in his works was often about the free will of an individual. He also wrote many essays sharing his thoughts on literature and culture. He often highlighted the importance of the writer Ernst Jünger.
His Books and Writings
Complete Collection
On February 21, 2005, a special collection of Alfred Andersch's complete works was released. This was to mark 25 years since his death. The ten books in this collection also include writings that had never been published before.
- Gesammelte Werke in 10 Bänden in Kassette, 5952 S., Zürich / Schweiz, Diogenes Verlag, Leinen, ISBN: 3-257-06360-1.
Individual Books
- Deutsche Literatur in der Entscheidung; essay, 1948
- Die Kirschen der Freiheit; autobiography, 1952. (English title: The Cherries of Freedom: A Report)
- Sansibar oder der letzte Grund; novel, 1957. (English title: Flight to afar). This book was made into two films.
- Geister und Leute. Zehn Geschichten (1958). (English title: The Night of the Giraffe and Other Stories)
- Die Rote; novel, 1960. (English title: The redhead). This book was also made into a film.
- Efraim; novel, 1967
- Mein Verschwinden in Providence; stories, 1971. (English title: My Disappearance in Providence, and other stories)
- Winterspelt; novel, 1974. (English title: Winterspelt). This book was also made into a film.
- Das Alfred Andersch Lesebuch; selected works, 1979
- Der Vater eines Mörders; 1980. (English title: The Father of a Murderer)
- Arno Schmidt, Der Briefwechsel mit Alfred Andersch; letters, 1985
- Fahrerflucht; radio play
Images for kids
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Alfred Andersch’s grave
See Also
In Spanish: Alfred Andersch para niños
