Karl Kraus (1874-1936), the great Austrian writer, satirist, language and media critic, published The Last Days of Mankind (1918), which is now considered world literature, and had a substantial influence on the public realm working as an editor of the newspaper Die Fackel (The Torch) (1898-1936) for decades: On the occasion of his 150th birthday, this guided tour pays tribute to him.
You will see exhibits from the outstanding Karl Kraus collection that Marbach collector Friedrich Pfäfflin transferred to the Brennero Archive in 2019. It comprises hand-written manuscripts, correspondence, as well as pictorial documents of Karl Kraus and his environment. A hand-written draft of his famous poem “Man frage nicht, was all die Zeit ich machte” (Do Not Ask What I Had Been Doing All this Time)—which represents Kraus’ reaction to Hitler’s assumption of power—is a special gem contained in this collection.
Man frage nicht, was all die Zeit ich machte.
Ich bleibe stumm;
und sage nicht, warum.
Und Stille gibt es, da die Erde krachte.
Kein Wort, das traf;
man spricht nur aus dem Schlaf.
Und träumt von einer Sonne, welche lachte.
Es geht vorbei;
nachher war’s einerlei.Das Wort entschlief, als jene Welt erwachte. (1933)
Guided tour with
Ulrike Tanzer
Germanist, Director of Research Institute Brennero Archive at the University of Innsbruck
Markus Ender
Germanist, Senior Scientist at Research Institute Brennero Archive at the University of Innsbruck
