Bertha Eckstein-Diener (18 March 1874, Vienna – 20 February 1948, Geneva), also known by her American pseudonym as Helen Diner, was an Austrian writer, travel journalist, feminist historian and intellectual. Her book Mothers and Amazons (1930), was the first to focus on women's cultural history. It is regarded as a classic study of matriarchy.[1]
Bertha Eckstein in 1902
She was a member of the "Arthurians," a group of European intellectuals active in the 1930s, each of whom adopted a name from Arthur's Round Table (Diner was Sir Galahad). Each member undertook to research an area of knowledge hitherto little known to Western culture. Diner set out to document a feminist history of women, and infused her book Mothers and Amazons (Mütter und Amazonen) with lyrical and poetic language.[1]
Bertha Diener came from a middle-class family and received a higher education. Against the will of her parents, she married the polymath Friedrich Eckstein, a Viennese scholar and industrialist, in 1898. Like her husband, she was a member of the Vienna Lodge of the Theosophical Society Adyar (Adyar-TG). The couple received in their home at this time such notables as Karl Kraus, Adolf Loos, and Peter Altenberg. In 1904 Bertha left her husband and her son Percy (born 1899) and began her travels which took her to Egypt, Greece, and England. The couple finally divorced in 1909 and Frederick Eckstein died in 1939 at the age of 78.
Her 2nd son, Roger (born 1910) was fathered by Theodore Beer, but was placed with a foster family and did not make contact again with his mother until 1936 by letter and in person only in 1938 in Berlin. From 1919 Diener lived in Lucerne, Switzerland. Diener initially wrote under the pseudonym Ahasvera (roughly translated as "Perpetual traveler").[2] Her best-known works were published under the name Sir Galahad, from the knights of King Arthur. Besides her books, she wrote a series of articles for newspapers and magazines and translated three works of American journalists and the esoteric writer Prentice Mulford.
Between 1914 and 1919 she wrote Kegelschnitte Gottes, about the situation of women during that period. From 1925 to 1931, she worked on Mütter und Amazonen, a women-focused cultural history, based on the work of Johann Jakob Bachofen.
She died aged 73 on 20 February 1948 in Geneva, five weeks after an operation. Her last work, a cultural history of England, remained unfinished.
Works
Unless otherwise indicated, the works first appeared under the pseudonym Sir Galahad.
Im palast des Minos (In the Palace of Minos), Munich: Albert Langen, 1913. 118 pp., 2nd ed., 1924.
(tr.) Der Unfug des Sterbens: ausgewählte Essays by Prentice Mulford. Munich: Langen, [1920].
Die Kegelschnitte Gottes; Roman (The Conic Sections of God: Novel), Munich: Albert Langen, 1921. 546 pp. 2nd ed., 1926; 3rd ed., 1932.
(tr.) Das Ende des Unfugs: ausgewählte Essays by Prentice Mulford. Munich: Albert Langen, 1922.
Idiotenführer durch die russische Literatur (Idiot's Guide to Russian literature). Munich: Albert Langen, 1925. 163 pp.
Mütter und Amazone: ein Umriss weiblicher Reiche (Mothers and Amazons: an outline of female empires), Munich: Albert Langen, 1932. 305 pp. Various later eds., from 1981 by Ullstein in paperback, with the subtitle Liebe und Macht im Frauenreich (love and power in the rule of women). ISBN3-548-35594-3. Translated into English by John Philip Lundin as Mothers and Amazons: the first feminine history of culture, New York: Julian Press, 1965. Introduction by Joseph Campbell.
Byzanz; von kaisern, engeln und eunuchen (Byzantium. Of emperors, angels and eunuchs), Leipzig and Vienna: Tal, 1936. 318 pp. Translated into English by Eden and Cedar Paul as Emperors, angels, and eunuchs: the thousand years of the Byzantine Empire, London: Chatto & Windus, 1938. US edition published as Imperial Byzantium, 1938.
Bohemund: ein Kreuzfahrer-Roman (Bohemond: a Crusader novel), Leipzig: Goten-Verlag Herbert Eisentraut, 1938. 291 pp.
(as Helen Diner) Seide: Eine kleine Kulturgeschichte (Silk: a small cultural history), Leipzig: Goten-Verlag H. Eisentraut, 1940. 259 pp., 2nd ed., 1944; 3rd ed., 1949.
Der glückliche Hügel; ein Richard-Wagner-Roman (The lucky hill: a Richard Wagner novel), Zürich: Atlantis, 1943. 366 pp.
^Collection of essays published Munich,1924, by Albert Langen Verlag für Literatur und Kunst, as Der Unfug des Sterbens : ausgewählte Essays, von Prentice Mulford ; bearbeitet und aus dem Englischen übersetzt von Sir Galahad, authors: Mulford, Prentice, 1834-1891. ; Eckstein-Diener, Bertha Helene, (pseudonyms, "Ahasvera", "Sir Galahad", "Helen Diner"), 1874-1948.[1]
References
Helen Diner Entry at the Brooklyn Museum Dinner Party database of notable women. Accessed March 2008
Eckstein, Bertha at the Aeiou Encyclopedia, Austria. Accessed March 2008
Sibylle Mulot-Déri: Sir Galahad. Porträt einer Verschollenen, Fischer Taschenbuch, Frankfurt 1987, 283 S. (vergriffen) ISBN3-596-25663-1
January 06, 2023
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Bertha Eckstein Diener 18 March 1874 Vienna 20 February 1948 Geneva also known by her American pseudonym as Helen Diner was an Austrian writer travel journalist feminist historian and intellectual Her book Mothers and Amazons 1930 was the first to focus on women s cultural history It is regarded as a classic study of matriarchy 1 Bertha Eckstein in 1902 She was a member of the Arthurians a group of European intellectuals active in the 1930s each of whom adopted a name from Arthur s Round Table Diner was Sir Galahad Each member undertook to research an area of knowledge hitherto little known to Western culture Diner set out to document a feminist history of women and infused her book Mothers and Amazons Mutter und Amazonen with lyrical and poetic language 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Notes 4 ReferencesLife EditBertha Diener came from a middle class family and received a higher education Against the will of her parents she married the polymath Friedrich Eckstein a Viennese scholar and industrialist in 1898 Like her husband she was a member of the Vienna Lodge of the Theosophical Society Adyar Adyar TG The couple received in their home at this time such notables as Karl Kraus Adolf Loos and Peter Altenberg In 1904 Bertha left her husband and her son Percy born 1899 and began her travels which took her to Egypt Greece and England The couple finally divorced in 1909 and Frederick Eckstein died in 1939 at the age of 78 Her 2nd son Roger born 1910 was fathered by Theodore Beer but was placed with a foster family and did not make contact again with his mother until 1936 by letter and in person only in 1938 in Berlin From 1919 Diener lived in Lucerne Switzerland Diener initially wrote under the pseudonym Ahasvera roughly translated as Perpetual traveler 2 Her best known works were published under the name Sir Galahad from the knights of King Arthur Besides her books she wrote a series of articles for newspapers and magazines and translated three works of American journalists and the esoteric writer Prentice Mulford Between 1914 and 1919 she wrote Kegelschnitte Gottes about the situation of women during that period From 1925 to 1931 she worked on Mutter und Amazonen a women focused cultural history based on the work of Johann Jakob Bachofen She died aged 73 on 20 February 1948 in Geneva five weeks after an operation Her last work a cultural history of England remained unfinished Works EditUnless otherwise indicated the works first appeared under the pseudonym Sir Galahad Im palast des Minos In the Palace of Minos Munich Albert Langen 1913 118 pp 2nd ed 1924 tr Der Unfug des Sterbens ausgewahlte Essays by Prentice Mulford Munich Langen 1920 Die Kegelschnitte Gottes Roman The Conic Sections of God Novel Munich Albert Langen 1921 546 pp 2nd ed 1926 3rd ed 1932 tr Das Ende des Unfugs ausgewahlte Essays by Prentice Mulford Munich Albert Langen 1922 Idiotenfuhrer durch die russische Literatur Idiot s Guide to Russian literature Munich Albert Langen 1925 163 pp Mutter und Amazone ein Umriss weiblicher Reiche Mothers and Amazons an outline of female empires Munich Albert Langen 1932 305 pp Various later eds from 1981 by Ullstein in paperback with the subtitle Liebe und Macht im Frauenreich love and power in the rule of women ISBN 3 548 35594 3 Translated into English by John Philip Lundin as Mothers and Amazons the first feminine history of culture New York Julian Press 1965 Introduction by Joseph Campbell Byzanz von kaisern engeln und eunuchen Byzantium Of emperors angels and eunuchs Leipzig and Vienna Tal 1936 318 pp Translated into English by Eden and Cedar Paul as Emperors angels and eunuchs the thousand years of the Byzantine Empire London Chatto amp Windus 1938 US edition published as Imperial Byzantium 1938 Bohemund ein Kreuzfahrer Roman Bohemond a Crusader novel Leipzig Goten Verlag Herbert Eisentraut 1938 291 pp as Helen Diner Seide Eine kleine Kulturgeschichte Silk a small cultural history Leipzig Goten Verlag H Eisentraut 1940 259 pp 2nd ed 1944 3rd ed 1949 Der gluckliche Hugel ein Richard Wagner Roman The lucky hill a Richard Wagner novel Zurich Atlantis 1943 366 pp Notes Edit a b Brooklyn Museum Dinner party database Collection of essays published Munich 1924 by Albert Langen Verlag fur Literatur und Kunst as Der Unfug des Sterbens ausgewahlte Essays von Prentice Mulford bearbeitet und aus dem Englischen ubersetzt von Sir Galahad authors Mulford Prentice 1834 1891 Eckstein Diener Bertha Helene pseudonyms Ahasvera Sir Galahad Helen Diner 1874 1948 1 References EditHelen Diner Entry at the Brooklyn Museum Dinner Party database of notable women Accessed March 2008 Works at the German National Library Index permanent dead link Eckstein Bertha at the Aeiou Encyclopedia Austria Accessed March 2008 Sibylle Mulot Deri Sir Galahad Portrat einer Verschollenen Fischer Taschenbuch Frankfurt 1987 283 S vergriffen ISBN 3 596 25663 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bertha Eckstein Diener amp oldid 1130365226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
