Heinz Gerstinger facts for kids

Heinz Gerstinger and his wife Erika Santner

Heinz Gerstinger (born October 13, 1919, in Vienna, Austria; died April 28, 2016, also in Vienna) was an important Austrian writer, playwright (someone who writes plays), and historian (someone who studies and writes about the past). He spent his life exploring history and theater, sharing his knowledge through books, plays, and even on radio and television.

About Heinz Gerstinger

His Life and Work

Heinz Gerstinger studied history and dramatics (the study of plays and theater) at the University of Vienna. After his studies, he worked for universities in Graz and Vienna. He also worked for theaters in Graz, Augsburg, and Vienna.

Besides his academic and theater work, Heinz Gerstinger was a busy writer. He wrote for many literary magazines and newspapers. He also worked for Austrian radio and television, sharing his knowledge with a wider audience. He was a member of important writing groups like the Austrian P.E.N. and the Österreichischer Schriftstellerverband (Austrian Writers' Association).

What He Wrote

Heinz Gerstinger wrote many books and plays. His works often focused on history, especially the history of theater and famous people.

Books and Plays

• About famous writers: He wrote books about well-known playwrights like Calderón and Lope de Vega, who were famous Spanish writers. He also wrote about Austrian playwrights like Anton Wildgans.
• About Vienna: Heinz Gerstinger loved his hometown, Vienna. He wrote a book called Wien von gestern (Vienna of Yesterday), which was a literary journey through the historic city. He also explored the history of "literary salons" in Vienna, which were places where writers and thinkers met to discuss ideas.
• About castles: He wrote a guide called Ausflugsziel Burgen (Excursion Destination Castles), which described 30 castles around Vienna.
• Historical stories: Some of his books told fascinating historical stories, like Frau Venus reitet... about Ulrich von Lichtenstein, a knight from the Middle Ages. He also wrote about historical figures like Pope Gregory VII.

As an Actor

Heinz Gerstinger also had a small role as an actor in a movie called Das falsche Gewicht (The False Weight). This film was directed by Bernhard Wicki and was based on a book by Joseph Roth.

See also

In Spanish: Heinz Gerstinger para niños