Friedrich Dürrenmatt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Friedrich Dürrenmatt
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Dürrenmatt in 1989
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| Born | 5 January 1921 Konolfingen, Bern, Switzerland |
| Died | 14 December 1990 (aged 69) Neuchâtel, Switzerland |
| Occupation | Playwright, novelist |
| Language | German |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Years active | 1957–1990 |
| Notable works | The Physicists The Visit |
| Spouse |
Lotti Geißler
(m. 1946; died 1983)Charlotte Kerr
(m. 1984) |
| Children | 3 (with Geißler) |
 Literature portal |
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Friedrich Dürrenmatt (born January 5, 1921, died December 14, 1990) was a famous writer from Switzerland. He wrote plays that often showed what it was like to live during and after World War II. He wrote many different kinds of stories, including plays, mystery novels, and funny but dark satires. Dürrenmatt was also part of a group of Swiss writers called Gruppe Olten. This group often met to discuss their ideas.
Contents
Life of Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Friedrich Dürrenmatt was born in Konolfingen, a town in Switzerland. His father was a pastor, and his grandfather was a politician. In 1935, his family moved to Bern, another city in Switzerland.
Early Studies and Career Start
In 1941, Dürrenmatt started studying philosophy and German literature at the University of Zürich. He later moved to the University of Bern and also studied natural science there. By 1943, he decided he wanted to be a writer and stopped his university studies.
His first play, It Is Written, was finished in 1946. On October 11, 1946, he married an actress named Lotti Geissler.
Travels and Other Interests
Dürrenmatt traveled to different countries during his life. He visited the United States in 1969 and Israel in 1974. In 1990, he traveled to Auschwitz in Poland.
He also enjoyed painting and drawing. His artwork was shown in exhibitions in Neuchâtel and Zürich in the 1970s and 1980s.
Later Life and Legacy
Dürrenmatt's first wife, Lotti Geissler, passed away in 1983. In 1984, he married another actress, Charlotte Kerr.
In 1990, he gave two important speeches. One was about being spied on by the Swiss Secret Service. The other speech honored Mikhail Gorbachev, a famous political leader.
Friedrich Dürrenmatt died on December 14, 1990, in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Since the year 2000, his works have been displayed at the Centre Dürrenmatt. This center is part of the Swiss National Library.
Friedrich Dürrenmatt's Plays
Dürrenmatt was known for his unique style of theater, similar to Bertolt Brecht's "epic theater." He was considered a very original thinker in this field.
First Plays and Major Successes
His first play, It Is Written, caused a lot of discussion when it opened in 1947. It was about a fight between a person who loved drama and a very religious person. The play even caused arguments among the audience!
Between 1948 and 1949, Dürrenmatt wrote short pieces for a comedy show in Zürich. His first big success was the play Romulus the Great. This play is set in the year 476 A.D. It tells the story of the last days of the Roman Empire and its final emperor, Romulus.
Famous Works and Themes
The Visit (1956) is another famous play by Dürrenmatt. It mixes comedy and tragedy. The story is about a very rich woman who offers her hometown a lot of money. But there's a catch: they must get revenge for bad things that happened to her.
The Physicists (1962) is a play that makes you think. It explores important questions about science and its responsibility. It looks at how scientific discoveries can lead to big and sometimes dangerous changes in the world.
Dürrenmatt also wrote plays for radio. These include Hercules in the Augean Stables and Incident at Twilight. His later works, Labyrinth and Turmbau zu Babel, are collections of his ideas and philosophical thoughts.
Dürrenmatt's Stories in Film
Many of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's stories and plays have been turned into movies. Here are some examples:
- It Happened in Broad Daylight (1958)
- The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi (1961)
- The Visit (1964)
- Once a Greek (1966)
- Play Strindberg (1969)
- Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (1971), based on A Dangerous Game
- End of the Game (1976), where Dürrenmatt himself appeared in two scenes
- The Deadly Game (1982)
- Hyènes (1992), an adaptation of The Visit
- Justiz (1993)
- The Pledge (2001), based on his novel Das Versprechen
Adaptations of His Works
Dürrenmatt's novel, A Dangerous Game, was adapted into a play in India. It was called Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe and has been performed in many Indian languages. It was also made into a film.
His play The Visit has been adapted into a musical. It was also made into a play called Miss.Meena by a theater group in India.
Recently, in November 2024, two of his radio plays were adapted for BBC Radio Drama. They were called Different Truths.
See also
In Spanish: Friedrich Dürrenmatt para niños
