Ernst Herbeck facts for kids

Ernst Herbeck (born October 9, 1920, in Stockerau, Lower Austria – died September 11, 1991) was an Austrian poet. When he was 20 years old, in 1940, Herbeck went to live in a special hospital in Lower Austria. He stayed there for most of his life, writing thousands of poems until he passed away in 1991.

Ernst Herbeck's Life Story

Ernst Herbeck grew up in Stockerau, Lower Austria. When he was 20, he worked in a factory that made things for the military. Around this time, he started having difficulties with his thoughts and feelings.

In 1940, he first went to live in the special hospital. Sometimes, he felt better for a while. In 1944, he even joined the army for a short time but left in 1945. A year after World War II ended, Herbeck went back to live in the hospital permanently.

After living in the hospital for fifteen years, Herbeck began writing poetry. His poems are known for being simple and direct. They are also very short and use words in a unique way. Many of his poems have animal names as titles. These names were often given to him by his psychiatrist, Leo Navratil, as writing exercises.

Two years before he died, Herbeck gave over 1,000 of his handwritten poems to the Austrian national library. This was a special gift so others could read his work.

His Lasting Impact

Ernst Herbeck's work has inspired other writers. W. G. Sebald, a famous writer, wrote an article about Herbeck. It was called Das Häschens Kind, der kleine Has' (The Little Hare's Child, the Small Hare). This article was about Herbeck's favorite animal, the hare. Sebald also wrote about visiting Herbeck in his book Vertigo.

Herbeck was also a character in a play by Philipp Weiss in 2013. The play was called Ein schöner Hase ist meistens der Einzellne. This shows how Herbeck's unique poetry and life story continue to be remembered and shared.