Lisel Mueller (born Elisabeth Neumann, February 8, 1924 – February 21, 2020) was a German-born American poet, translator and academic teacher. Her family fled the Nazi regime, and she arrived in the U.S. in 1939 at the age of 15. She worked as a literary critic and taught at the University of Chicago, Elmhurst College and Goddard College. She began writing poetry in the 1950s and published her first collection in 1965, after years of self-study. She received awards including the National Book Award in 1981 and the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1997, as the only German-born poet awarded that prize.[1]
Mueller was born Elisabeth Neumann in Hamburg. Her father, Fritz C. Neumann, was a high school teacher at the Gymnasium Alstertal. A progressive educator, he delivered a speech in 1933 to an assembly of Hamburg teachers, warning of the dangers of Nazi ideology. When the Nazis came to power, he was dismissed. Her mother, Ilse (Burmester),[2] an elementary teacher, sustained the family. In 1935, her father was interrogated by the Gestapo for four days.[1] He emigrated, first to Italy, then to the U.S., where he was accepted in 1937 as a political refugee.[1] He became a professor of French and German at Evansville College.[3] She followed with her mother and her younger sister Ingeborg, arriving on 9 June 1939.[1][4] In the U.S., she used the name Lisel.[1] She graduated from the University of Evansville in 1944.[5] Her mother died in 1953,[5] and she then began to write poetry, publishing the first small collection, Dependencies, in 1965 after twelve years of self-studies.[1]
In 1943, she married Paul Mueller.[1] The couple built a home in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois, in the 1960s, and she wrote: "Though my family landed in the Midwest, we lived in urban or suburban environments." They raised two daughters, Lucy and Jenny.[1][4] She made money by working as a receptionist in a doctor's office[1] and writing book reviews for the Chicago Daily News, which hired her in the 1970s.[5]
During her last years, Mueller resided in a retirement community in Chicago, Illinois.[3][4] She died on February 21, 2020, at the age of 96.[4]
Books
Poetry
Mueller's poems often depart from seemingly simple observations. While her work is in English, it reflects her German roots. She sometimes alludes to German fairy-tales by the Brothers Grimm, and quotes Bertold Brecht. In her 1992 autobiographical poem "Curriculum Vitae", she writes: "My country was struck by history more deadly than earthquakes or hurricanes".[1]
Her poems have been described as extremely accessible, yet intricate and layered. While at times whimsical and possessing a sly humor, there is an underlying sadness in much of her work.[6][7]
^ abcdefghijklmnSchirrmeister, Benno (January 2, 2019). "Aus Nazi-Deutschland geflohene Lyrikerin: Die Dichterin der zweiten Sprache". Die Tageszeitung (in German). pp. 15–16. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
^Tribune, Karen DeBrulye Cruze Special to the. "BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER". chicagotribune.com.
^ abc"Lisel Mueller". poets.org. 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
^ abcdefghO'Donnell, Maureen (February 22, 2020). "Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Lisel Mueller dies; Chicagoan was one of nation's most honored writers". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
^ abcdefghijk"Lisel Mueller". National Names DataBase (NNDB). Retrieved October 29, 2006.
^Lisel Mueller 2006-02-22 at the Wayback Machine at Western Illinois University Web site, accessed October 29, 2006
^Curriculum Vitae by Lisel Mueller 1992 2006-10-03 at the Wayback Machine at Academy of American Poets Web site, accessed October 29, 2006
^ ab "National Book Awards – 1981". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2012-04-07. (With essay by Dilruba Ahmed from the Awards' 60th anniversary blog.)
^ ab"Poetry / Past winners & finalists by category". pulitzer.org. January 2, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
^"Lisel Mueller". arts.gov. Washington: National Endowment for the Arts. 1990. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
^Schirrmeister, Benno (November 29, 2019). "Verleihung des Bundesverdienstkreuzes / Späte Ehre für Lisel Mueller". Die Tageszeitung (in German). Retrieved February 24, 2020.
Martha Minow: "Reading the Brothers Grimm to Jenny" in Making All the Difference: Inclusion, Exclusion, and American Law, Cornell University Press, 2016
"Hope" writersalmanac.org
"Monet Refuses the Operation" civicreflection.org
"Things" poetryfoundation.org
February 14, 2023
lisel, mueller, born, elisabeth, neumann, february, 1924, february, 2020, german, born, american, poet, translator, academic, teacher, family, fled, nazi, regime, arrived, 1939, worked, literary, critic, taught, university, chicago, elmhurst, college, goddard,. Lisel Mueller born Elisabeth Neumann February 8 1924 February 21 2020 was a German born American poet translator and academic teacher Her family fled the Nazi regime and she arrived in the U S in 1939 at the age of 15 She worked as a literary critic and taught at the University of Chicago Elmhurst College and Goddard College She began writing poetry in the 1950s and published her first collection in 1965 after years of self study She received awards including the National Book Award in 1981 and the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1997 as the only German born poet awarded that prize 1 Lisel MuellerBornElisabeth Neumann 1924 02 08 February 8 1924Hamburg GermanyDiedFebruary 21 2020 2020 02 21 aged 96 Chicago Illinois U S OccupationsPoet Translator Academic teacherOrganizationsUniversity of Chicago Elmhurst College Goddard CollegeAwardsLamont Poetry Prize National Book Award for Poetry Pulitzer Prize for Poetry Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Contents 1 Life and career 2 Books 2 1 Poetry 2 2 Translation 3 Awards 4 References 5 External linksLife and career EditMueller was born Elisabeth Neumann in Hamburg Her father Fritz C Neumann was a high school teacher at the Gymnasium Alstertal A progressive educator he delivered a speech in 1933 to an assembly of Hamburg teachers warning of the dangers of Nazi ideology When the Nazis came to power he was dismissed Her mother Ilse Burmester 2 an elementary teacher sustained the family In 1935 her father was interrogated by the Gestapo for four days 1 He emigrated first to Italy then to the U S where he was accepted in 1937 as a political refugee 1 He became a professor of French and German at Evansville College 3 She followed with her mother and her younger sister Ingeborg arriving on 9 June 1939 1 4 In the U S she used the name Lisel 1 She graduated from the University of Evansville in 1944 5 Her mother died in 1953 5 and she then began to write poetry publishing the first small collection Dependencies in 1965 after twelve years of self studies 1 In 1943 she married Paul Mueller 1 The couple built a home in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest Illinois in the 1960s and she wrote Though my family landed in the Midwest we lived in urban or suburban environments They raised two daughters Lucy and Jenny 1 4 She made money by working as a receptionist in a doctor s office 1 and writing book reviews for the Chicago Daily News which hired her in the 1970s 5 Mueller taught at the University of Chicago Elmhurst College in Illinois Goddard College in Plainfield Vermont 5 and Warren Wilson College 3 She stopped publishing after her husband died in 2001 and her vision deteriorated 1 During her last years Mueller resided in a retirement community in Chicago Illinois 3 4 She died on February 21 2020 at the age of 96 4 Books EditPoetry Edit Mueller s poems often depart from seemingly simple observations While her work is in English it reflects her German roots She sometimes alludes to German fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and quotes Bertold Brecht In her 1992 autobiographical poem Curriculum Vitae she writes My country was struck by history more deadly than earthquakes or hurricanes 1 Her poems have been described as extremely accessible yet intricate and layered While at times whimsical and possessing a sly humor there is an underlying sadness in much of her work 6 7 Dependencies 1965 1 Life of a Queen 1970 by Northeast Juniper Books 5 The Private Life 1975 Lamont Poetry Selection 5 Voices from the Forest 1977 5 The Need to Hold Still 1980 winner of the National Book Award 5 8 Second Language 1986 5 Waving from Shore 1989 5 Learning to Play by Ear 1990 5 Alive Together New amp Selected Poems 1996 winner of the Pulitzer Prize 1 9 Translation Edit She published several volumes of translation including Selected Later Poems of Marie Luise Kaschnitz 1980 10 11 Circe s Mountain stories by Marie Luise Kaschnitz 1990 10 Awards Edit1975 Lamont Poetry Prize for The Private Life 4 1981 National Book Award for Poetry for The Need to Hold Still 8 1990 Carl Sandburg Award 4 1990 National Endowment for the Arts fellowship 12 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for Alive Together New amp Selected Poems 1 9 2002 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize 2002 4 2019 Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 4 13 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Schirrmeister Benno January 2 2019 Aus Nazi Deutschland geflohene Lyrikerin Die Dichterin der zweiten Sprache Die Tageszeitung in German pp 15 16 Retrieved February 23 2020 Tribune Karen DeBrulye Cruze Special to the BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER chicagotribune com a b c Lisel Mueller poets org 2020 Retrieved February 24 2020 a b c d e f g h O Donnell Maureen February 22 2020 Pulitzer Prize winning poet Lisel Mueller dies Chicagoan was one of nation s most honored writers Chicago Sun Times Retrieved February 24 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k Lisel Mueller National Names DataBase NNDB Retrieved October 29 2006 Lisel Mueller Archived 2006 02 22 at the Wayback Machine at Western Illinois University Web site accessed October 29 2006 Curriculum Vitae by Lisel Mueller 1992 Archived 2006 10 03 at the Wayback Machine at Academy of American Poets Web site accessed October 29 2006 a b National Book Awards 1981 National Book Foundation Retrieved 2012 04 07 With essay by Dilruba Ahmed from the Awards 60th anniversary blog a b Poetry Past winners amp finalists by category pulitzer org January 2 2019 Retrieved April 7 2012 a b Boland Eavan ed 2006 After Every War Twentieth century Women Poets Princeton University Press p 161 ISBN 978 0 69 112779 8 Retrieved February 24 2020 Kaschnitz Marie Luise 1980 Selected Later Poems of Marie Luise Kaschnitz Princeton University Press ISBN 9780691615745 Retrieved February 24 2020 Lisel Mueller arts gov Washington National Endowment for the Arts 1990 Retrieved 16 February 2020 Schirrmeister Benno November 29 2019 Verleihung des Bundesverdienstkreuzes Spate Ehre fur Lisel Mueller Die Tageszeitung in German Retrieved February 24 2020 External links EditLiterature by and about Lisel Mueller in the German National Library catalogue Poems by Lisel Mueller plagiarist com Martha Minow Reading the Brothers Grimm to Jenny in Making All the Difference Inclusion Exclusion and American Law Cornell University Press 2016 Another Version and Scenic Route Hope writersalmanac org Monet Refuses the Operation civicreflection org Things poetryfoundation org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lisel Mueller amp oldid 1106072527, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
