Thomas Bernhard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Bernhard
Bernhard in 1987
Born	Nicolaas Thomas Bernhard (1931-02-09)9 February 1931 Heerlen, Netherlands
Died	12 February 1989(1989-02-12) (aged 58) Gmunden, Upper Austria, Austria
Occupation	Novelist and playwright
Nationality	Austrian
Period	1957–1989
Literary movement	Postmodernism
Notable works	Correction Extinction The Loser Woodcutters
Signature

Nicolaas Thomas Bernhard (9 February 1931 – 12 February 1989) was an Austrian novelist, playwright, and poet. He wrote about serious topics like life's difficulties and how people struggle. His books and plays often had strong, critical views about modern society and Austrian culture.

Many people consider Bernhard's writings to be very important. Some even say his work is "the most significant literary achievement since World War II." He is seen as one of the most important German-language authors from after the war.

Life of Thomas Bernhard

Thomas Bernhard was born in 1931 in Heerlen, a town in the Netherlands. His mother, Herta Bernhard, was working there at the time. In the autumn of 1931, he went to live with his grandparents in Vienna, Austria.

In 1937, his mother, who had married, moved him to Traunstein, Bavaria, in Germany. During this time, he was required to join the Deutsches Jungvolk, a youth group that he really disliked. Bernhard's father did not acknowledge him.

Early Education and Health

Bernhard's grandfather, who was an author, encouraged him to study art and music. Thomas went to elementary school in Seekirchen. Later, he attended different schools in Salzburg. He left school in 1947 to start learning how to be a grocer.

During his teenage years, Thomas Bernhard suffered from lung problems, including tuberculosis. From 1949 to 1951, he stayed at a special hospital called a sanatorium in Sankt Veit im Pongau.

He also studied acting at the Mozarteum in Salzburg from 1955 to 1957. He loved music very much, but his lung condition meant he could not become a singer. After his studies, he worked briefly as a journalist, mainly reporting on crime. Soon after, he became a full-time writer.

Important Relationships and Awards

A very important person in Bernhard's life was Hedwig Stavianicek (1894–1984). She was much older than him, and he took care of her when she was dying. He met her in 1950, which was the same year his mother passed away. His beloved grandfather had died the year before. Hedwig Stavianicek was a huge support for Bernhard and helped his writing career a lot.

In 1970, Thomas Bernhard won the Georg Büchner Prize, which is a very important award for German-language literature.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1978, Bernhard was diagnosed with another lung condition called sarcoidosis. After needing constant medical care for his lungs for ten years, he passed away in 1989 in Gmunden, Upper Austria. His death was announced only after his funeral.

In his will, Thomas Bernhard stated that his plays should not be performed and his unpublished works should not be printed in Austria. This caused a lot of discussion. However, in 1999, his heir, Peter Fabjan, changed this rule. Bernhard's house in Ohlsdorf-Obernathal, where he moved in 1965, is now a museum. It is also a place where people can study and perform his work.

Thomas Bernhard's Work

Thomas Bernhard was often criticized in Austria. Some people called him a Nestbeschmutzer, which means someone who "dirties their own nest," because of his critical views about his home country. However, he was also highly praised in other countries. Even in Austria, he won major awards and many saw him as a leading writer of his time.

Themes and Style

His writing was greatly influenced by feeling alone in his childhood and by his ongoing illness. These experiences made him see death as a central part of life. His works often feature characters who are alone. These characters give long speeches, explaining their thoughts on the world to a quiet listener.

Even though his views were serious and often sad, his works also contain funny observations about life. Bernhard is sometimes thought of as a writer who uses many words. However, his characters can also use very short and direct phrases. These two ways of speaking create interesting contrasts in his stories.

Bernhard's main characters are often scholars or "intellectuals." They frequently criticize things important to Austrians, like the government or respected institutions. He also wrote against the state, sometimes calling it "Catholic-National-Socialist." He even criticized famous places like Vienna's Burgtheater and well-loved artists. His work also explores how people who try to be perfect can become isolated and even harm themselves. This is because reaching perfection might mean stopping, which he saw as a kind of death. He also sometimes included strong anti-Catholic ideas in his writing.

Controversies and Impact

In 1968, when he received a small Austrian national award, Bernhard famously said, "Es ist alles lächerlich, wenn man an den Tod denkt" (It's all ridiculous, when one thinks of death). This comment caused one of his many public scandals and added to his fame.

His novel Holzfällen (1984), for example, could not be published for years. This was because a former friend claimed it unfairly criticized them. Many of his plays, especially Heldenplatz (1988), were also met with strong criticism from many Austrians. They felt these plays damaged Austria's reputation. One very controversial line in Heldenplatz called Austria "a brutal and stupid nation... a mindless, cultureless sewer which spreads its penetrating stench all over Europe." Heldenplatz and his other plays from those years were performed at Vienna's famous Burgtheater.

Even after his death, Bernhard caused a stir. His will stated that his works should not be published or performed in Austria. This was called his "posthumous literary emigration." However, the International Thomas Bernhard Foundation, set up by his half-brother Dr. Peter Fabjan, has since made exceptions. Still, the German company Suhrkamp remains his main publisher.

The letters between Bernhard and his publisher Siegfried Unseld, written from 1961 to 1989 (about 500 letters), were published in Germany in December 2009.

Films About Thomas Bernhard

• Ferry Radax: Thomas Bernhard – Drei Tage (Thomas Bernhard – three days, 1970). This film was directed by Ferry Radax and was based on a written self-portrait by Thomas Bernhard.
• Ferry Radax: Der Italiener (The Italian, 1972). This was a movie directed by Ferry Radax and based on a script written by Thomas Bernhard.

Images for kids

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  Thomas Bernhard's signature

See also

In Spanish: Thomas Bernhard para niños