Christine Lavant facts for kids
Christine Lavant (born Christine Thonhauser, later Christine Habernig) was an important Austrian poet and novelist. She was born on July 4, 1915, and passed away on June 7, 1973. She is known for her unique writing style, often described as deeply religious and old-fashioned.
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Life of Christine Lavant
Christine Lavant was born in a small village called Großedling. This village is now part of Wolfsberg in the Lavant Valley, Carinthia. She was the ninth child in a family that was not wealthy, as her father was a miner. Later, she chose "Lavant" as her pen name, taking it from the valley where she grew up.
Early Health Challenges
From birth, Christine faced many health problems. She had a serious illness that affected her neck and face, and she almost lost her eyesight. When she was three years old, she often got pneumonia. Doctors thought she might not survive. Despite this, she started primary school in 1921.
While in the hospital in Klagenfurt, a doctor noticed Christine's love for books. He gave her a book by the famous poet Rainer Maria Rilke. She carried this book for the long, 60-kilometer (about 37-mile) walk back home. In 1927, her health got worse again. She finished primary school with many breaks, two years later. This was after a risky X-ray treatment. She had to stop attending secondary school because the journey was too far for her weak health.
Life at Home and First Writings
Christine had to stay at her parents' home. She spent her time painting, writing, reading, and doing needlework. A long-lasting ear infection caused her to lose hearing in one ear. In the early 1930s, she went through a period of deep sadness. However, she kept focusing on her painting and writing. She even sent her first novel to a publisher in Graz.
Sadly, the publisher rejected her book in 1932. After this, Christine destroyed all her writings. In 1935, she went to a hospital in Klagenfurt. Her financial situation became worse after her parents died in 1937 and 1938. She earned some money by knitting. Her siblings also helped her. She later married Josef Habernig, a painter who was about 35 years older than her.
Becoming a Known Writer
After World War II, Christine Lavant started writing poetry again. Her poems began to get attention from writers in Austria. Her first book of poems was published by a company in Stuttgart. They encouraged her to write stories. In the same year, she published a short novel called Das Kind (The Child).
She became more widely known after reading her work at an event in Sankt Veit in 1950. Christine then moved back to her hometown of Wolfsberg. She lived a quiet life there for the rest of her days. In 1964, her husband passed away after a stroke. This caused Christine's health to decline, and she needed hospital care again. Christine Lavant died in Wolfsberg at the age of 57.
Her poems are often described as having a strong religious feeling and an old-fashioned style. People believe that the poet Rilke and Christianity greatly influenced her work.
Awards and Recognition
Christine Lavant received several important awards for her writing:
- 1954 Georg Trakl Prize
- 1964 Anton Wildgans Prize
- 1964 Georg Trakl Prize
- 1970 Grand Austrian State Prize for literature
See also
In Spanish: Christine Lavant para niños
