Friedrich Dürrenmatt (German: [ˈfriːdrɪç ˈdʏrənˌmat](listen); 5 January 1921 – 14 December 1990) was a Swiss author and dramatist. He was a proponent of epic theatre whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II. The politically active author's work included avant-garde dramas, philosophical crime novels, and macabre satire. Dürrenmatt was a member of the Gruppe Olten, a group of left-wing Swiss writers who convened regularly at a restaurant in the city of Olten.
Dürrenmatt was born in Konolfingen, canton of Bern, the son of a Protestant pastor. His grandfather, Ulrich Dürrenmatt, was a conservative politician. The family moved to Bern in 1935. Dürrenmatt began studies in philosophy, German philology, and German literature at the University of Zürich in 1941, but moved to the University of Bern after one semester where he also studied natural science. In 1943, he decided to become an author and dramatist and dropped his academic career. In 1945–46, he wrote his first play It Is Written. On 11 October 1946, he married the actress Lotti Geissler.
Dürrenmatt also enjoyed painting. Some of his own works and his drawings were exhibited in Neuchâtel in 1976 and 1985, as well as in Zürich in 1978.
His wife Lotti Geissler died on 16 January 1983. Dürrenmatt married another actress, Charlotte Kerr, in 1984.
In 1990, he gave two famous speeches, one in honour of Václav Havel ("Die Schweiz, ein Gefängnis?/Switzerland a Prison?"), upon discovering he had been spied on for five decades, along with 800,000 of his left-leaning fellow citizens, by the Swiss secret service;[2] the other in honour of Mikhail Gorbachev ("Kants Hoffnung/Kant's Hope"). Dürrenmatt often compared the three Abrahamic religions and Marxism, which he also saw as a religion.
Since 2000, his works are exhibited in Centre Dürrenmatt, a part of the Swiss National Library.
Dramatic works
Like Bertolt Brecht, Dürrenmatt explored the dramatic possibilities of epic theatre. Next to Brecht, he has been called its "most original theorist".[4]
When he was 26, his first play, It Is Written, premiered to great controversy. The story of the play revolves around a battle between a sensation-craving cynic and a religious fanatic who takes scripture literally, all of this taking place while the city they live in is under siege. The play's opening night in April 1947, caused fights and protests in the audience. Between 1948 and 1949, Dürrenmatt wrote several segments and sketches for the anti-NaziCabaret Cornichon in Zürich; among these, the single-act grotesque short play Der Gerettete (The Rescued).[5]
His first major success was the play Romulus the Great. Set in the year A.D. 476, the play explores the last days of the Roman Empire, presided over, and brought about by its last emperor, Romulus. The Visit (Der Besuch der alten Dame, 1956) is a grotesque fusion of comedy and tragedy about a wealthy woman who offers the people of her hometown a fortune if they will execute the man who jilted her years earlier. The satirical drama The Physicists (Die Physiker, 1962), which deals with issues concerning science and its responsibility for dramatic and dangerous changes to the world, has also been presented in translation.
Radio plays published in English include Hercules in the Augean Stables (Herkules und der Stall des Augias, 1954), Incident at Twilight (Abendstunde im Spätherbst, 1952) and The Mission of the Vega (Das Unternehmen der Wega, 1954). The two late works Labyrinth and Turmbau zu Babel are a collection of unfinished ideas, stories, and philosophical thoughts.
His novel, A Dangerous Game (also known as Die Panne (Traps)) was adapted into a Marathi play, Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (Silence! The Court Is in Session) by Indian playwright Vijay Tendulkar in 1967. The play has since then been performed in various Indian languages, and made into a film by the same name by Satyadev Dubey.
His play The Visit has been adapted and Indianised into a play called Miss.Meena by Chennai-based theatre group 'perch'.[citation needed]The Visit has also been adapted as a musical by Kander and Ebb.
His play "The Indicident At Twilight" has been adapted into a play called "Sann 2025" by Piyush Mishra.
References
^Der Richter und sein Henker, accessed 2022-03-19.
^Liukkonen, Petri. . Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015.
^Siegrist, Christoph (1986). "Nationalliterarische Aspekte bei Schweizer Autoren". Hansers Sozialgeschichte der deutschen Literatur vom 16. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart (in German). Vol. 10. Munich/Vienna: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag. p. 665. ISBN978-3-423-04352-6.
^RSI Il Salvato, di Friederich Dürrenmatt, for Rete Due, Colpo di scena, December 2010
^The Novels of Friedrich Dürrenmatt, London: Pan, 1985
Friedrich Dürrenmatt home page sponsored by the University of Chicago Press. Includes a 1969 interview with Dürrenmatt, his story "Smithy" and essay "Automobile and Railroad Nations," and essays on Dürrenmatt.
Radio drama by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Brigitte Marschall (2005). "Friedrich Dürrenmatt". In Andreas Kotte (ed.). Theaterlexikon der Schweiz (TLS) / Dictionnaire du théâtre en Suisse (DTS) / Dizionario Teatrale Svizzero / Lexicon da teater svizzer [Theater Dictionary of Switzerland]. Vol. 1. Zürich: Chronos. pp. 502–504. ISBN978-3-0340-0715-3. LCCN 2007423414. OCLC 62309181.
"Dürrenmatt, Friedrich". SIKART Lexicon on art in Switzerland.
April 21, 2023
friedrich, dürrenmatt, german, ˈfriːdrɪç, ˈdʏrənˌmat, listen, january, 1921, december, 1990, swiss, author, dramatist, proponent, epic, theatre, whose, plays, reflected, recent, experiences, world, politically, active, author, work, included, avant, garde, dra. Friedrich Durrenmatt German ˈfriːdrɪc ˈdʏrenˌmat listen 5 January 1921 14 December 1990 was a Swiss author and dramatist He was a proponent of epic theatre whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II The politically active author s work included avant garde dramas philosophical crime novels and macabre satire Durrenmatt was a member of the Gruppe Olten a group of left wing Swiss writers who convened regularly at a restaurant in the city of Olten Friedrich DurrenmattDurrenmatt in 1989Born 1921 01 05 5 January 1921Konolfingen Bern SwitzerlandDied14 December 1990 1990 12 14 aged 69 Neuchatel SwitzerlandOccupationPlaywright novelistLanguageGermanNationalitySwissYears active1957 1990Notable worksThe PhysicistsThe VisitSpouseLotti Geissler 1946 1983 her death Charlotte Kerr 1984 1990 his death Children3 with Geissler Literature portal Contents 1 Life 2 Dramatic works 3 Selected bibliography 4 Durrenmatt s stories in film 5 Adaptations 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksLife EditDurrenmatt was born in Konolfingen canton of Bern the son of a Protestant pastor His grandfather Ulrich Durrenmatt was a conservative politician The family moved to Bern in 1935 Durrenmatt began studies in philosophy German philology and German literature at the University of Zurich in 1941 but moved to the University of Bern after one semester where he also studied natural science In 1943 he decided to become an author and dramatist and dropped his academic career In 1945 46 he wrote his first play It Is Written On 11 October 1946 he married the actress Lotti Geissler Durrenmatt traveled in 1969 to the United States in 1974 to Israel and in 1990 to Auschwitz in Poland View above the Centre Durrenmatt at Lake Neuchatel In 1975 he played himself in the film End of the Game 1 Durrenmatt also enjoyed painting Some of his own works and his drawings were exhibited in Neuchatel in 1976 and 1985 as well as in Zurich in 1978 His wife Lotti Geissler died on 16 January 1983 Durrenmatt married another actress Charlotte Kerr in 1984 In 1990 he gave two famous speeches one in honour of Vaclav Havel Die Schweiz ein Gefangnis Switzerland a Prison upon discovering he had been spied on for five decades along with 800 000 of his left leaning fellow citizens by the Swiss secret service 2 the other in honour of Mikhail Gorbachev Kants Hoffnung Kant s Hope Durrenmatt often compared the three Abrahamic religions and Marxism which he also saw as a religion Durrenmatt died from heart failure 3 on 14 December 1990 in Neuchatel Since 2000 his works are exhibited in Centre Durrenmatt a part of the Swiss National Library Dramatic works EditLike Bertolt Brecht Durrenmatt explored the dramatic possibilities of epic theatre Next to Brecht he has been called its most original theorist 4 When he was 26 his first play It Is Written premiered to great controversy The story of the play revolves around a battle between a sensation craving cynic and a religious fanatic who takes scripture literally all of this taking place while the city they live in is under siege The play s opening night in April 1947 caused fights and protests in the audience Between 1948 and 1949 Durrenmatt wrote several segments and sketches for the anti Nazi Cabaret Cornichon in Zurich among these the single act grotesque short play Der Gerettete The Rescued 5 His first major success was the play Romulus the Great Set in the year A D 476 the play explores the last days of the Roman Empire presided over and brought about by its last emperor Romulus The Visit Der Besuch der alten Dame 1956 is a grotesque fusion of comedy and tragedy about a wealthy woman who offers the people of her hometown a fortune if they will execute the man who jilted her years earlier The satirical drama The Physicists Die Physiker 1962 which deals with issues concerning science and its responsibility for dramatic and dangerous changes to the world has also been presented in translation Radio plays published in English include Hercules in the Augean Stables Herkules und der Stall des Augias 1954 Incident at Twilight Abendstunde im Spatherbst 1952 and The Mission of the Vega Das Unternehmen der Wega 1954 The two late works Labyrinth and Turmbau zu Babel are a collection of unfinished ideas stories and philosophical thoughts Selected bibliography EditEs steht geschrieben 1947 Der Blinde 1947 Romulus the Great An Ahistorical Historical Comedy in Four Acts Romulus der Grosse 1950 play The Judge and His Hangman Der Richter und sein Henker 1950 novel Suspicion Der Verdacht 1951 also known as The Quarry The Tunnel Der Tunnel 1952 short story The Marriage of Mr Mississippi Die Ehe des Herrn Mississippi 1952 play An Angel Comes to Babylon Ein Engel kommt nach Babylon 1953 play Theatre Problems Theaterprobleme 1954 essay Once a Greek Grieche sucht Griechin 1955 novel The Visit Der Besuch der alten Dame 1956 play A Dangerous Game Die Panne 1956 novel novella also known as Traps 6 The Pledge Requiem for the Detective Novel Das Versprechen Requiem auf den Kriminalroman 1958 novella The Physicists A Comedy in Two Acts Die Physiker 1962 play Der Meteor 1966 King John Konig Johann 1968 play Play Strindberg 1969 play Monster Lecture on Justice and Law with a Helvetian Interlude Monstervortrag 1969 lecture The Coup Der Sturz 1971 short story Achterloo 1982 The Execution of Justice Justiz 1985 The Assignment Der Auftrag 1986 novella Switzerland A Prison A Speech for Vaclav Havel Die Schweiz ein Gefangnis Rede auf Vaclav Havel 1990 speech Durrenmatt s stories in film EditIt Happened in Broad Daylight 1958 with a TV version made in 1997 The Marriage of Mr Mississippi 1961 The Visit 1964 Der Besuch der alten Dame Once a Greek 1966 Grieche sucht Griechin Der Meteor 1968 7 Play Strindberg 1969 based on Strindberg s The Dance of Death Shantata Court Chalu Aahe Silence The Court Is in Session 1971 based on A Dangerous Game also known as Die Panne Traps 8 Poslednee delo komissara Berlaha Inspector Barlach Last Case based on Der Verdacht 1971 in Russian La piu bella serata della mia vita 1972 by Ettore Scola based on La Panne Avariya The Breakdown based on Die Panne 1974 in Russian End of the Game 1976 based on The Judge and His Hangman and in which Durrenmatt himself appears in two scenes The Deadly Game 1982 Trapp based on A Dangerous Game Cumartesi Cumartesi 1984 Salam stories in film Fiziki The Physicists 1988 in Russian Vizit damy The Visit of the Lady 1989 in Russian Szurkulet Twilight 1990 by Gyorgy Feher based on the Es geschah am hellichten Tag movie script Hyenes 1992 adaptation of The Visit by the Senegalese moviemaker Djibril Diop Mambety Jesienny wieczor An Autumn Evening based on Abendstunde im Spatherbst 1992 in Polish Justiz 1993 The Pledge 2001 based on the novel Das Versprechen which is in turn based on the Es geschah am hellichten Tag movie script Male Nilluvavarege 2015 Kannada movie is based on A Dangerous GameAdaptations EditHis novel A Dangerous Game also known as Die Panne Traps was adapted into a Marathi play Shantata Court Chalu Aahe Silence The Court Is in Session by Indian playwright Vijay Tendulkar in 1967 The play has since then been performed in various Indian languages and made into a film by the same name by Satyadev Dubey His play The Visit has been adapted and Indianised into a play called Miss Meena by Chennai based theatre group perch citation needed The Visit has also been adapted as a musical by Kander and Ebb His play The Indicident At Twilight has been adapted into a play called Sann 2025 by Piyush Mishra References Edit Der Richter und sein Henker accessed 2022 03 19 Swiss secret service spied on Durrenmatt Liukkonen Petri Friedrich Durrenmatt Books and Writers kirjasto sci fi Finland Kuusankoski Public Library Archived from the original on 23 February 2015 Siegrist Christoph 1986 Nationalliterarische Aspekte bei Schweizer Autoren Hansers Sozialgeschichte der deutschen Literatur vom 16 Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart in German Vol 10 Munich Vienna Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag p 665 ISBN 978 3 423 04352 6 RSI Il Salvato di Friederich Durrenmatt for Rete Due Colpo di scena December 2010 The Novels of Friedrich Durrenmatt London Pan 1985 Der Meteor at IMDb Shantata Court Chalu Aahe at IMDbFurther reading EditEverett M Ellestad Friedrich Durrenmatt s Mausefalle Mouse Trap The German Quarterly 43 4 770 779 November 1970 Gerhard P Knapp Friedrich Durrenmatt Studien zu seinem Werk Poesie und Wissenschaft XXXIII Lothar Stiehm Verlag Heidelberg 1976 Centre Durrenmatt NeuchatelExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Friedrich Durrenmatt Wikiquote has quotations related to Friedrich Durrenmatt Publications by and about Friedrich Durrenmatt in the catalogue Helveticat of the Swiss National Library Literary estate of Friedrich Durrenmatt HelveticArchives Swiss National Library Friedrich Durrenmatt home page sponsored by the University of Chicago Press Includes a 1969 interview with Durrenmatt his story Smithy and essay Automobile and Railroad Nations and essays on Durrenmatt Radio drama by Friedrich Durrenmatt Brigitte Marschall 2005 Friedrich Durrenmatt In Andreas Kotte ed Theaterlexikon der Schweiz TLS Dictionnaire du theatre en Suisse DTS Dizionario Teatrale Svizzero Lexicon da teater svizzer Theater Dictionary of Switzerland Vol 1 Zurich Chronos pp 502 504 ISBN 978 3 0340 0715 3 LCCN 2007423414 OCLC 62309181 Friedrich Durrenmatt at IMDb Durrenmatt Friedrich SIKART Lexicon on art in Switzerland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Friedrich Durrenmatt amp oldid 1148007063, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
