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Arno Schmidt

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Arno Schmidt

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1914-01-18 （Hamburg）
Died
1979-06-03 （Celle） age 65
Nationality
German
Languages
German
Residence History
Hamburg → Lauban → Görlitz → Greiffenberg → Darmstadt → Bargfeld

Career

Occupations
author, translator
Active Years
1946-1979
Influenced By
Edgar Allan Poe, James Joyce
Influenced
Hans Wollschläger
Nominations
Nobel Prize in Literature nomination (1971)

Education

Secondary school in Görlitz
Commercial
Country: Germany
Also commercial apprenticeship

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Bottom's Dream

1970 Novel 1332 pages

A stream-of-consciousness commentary on Edgar Allan Poe's works.

Etym theoryStream of consciousnessPoe studies
Translations
  • English translation by John E. Woods (2016)

The School for Atheists

1972 Novel

Novel themed around atheism.

AtheismPhilosophy
Translations
  • English translation available

Bibliography

  • Brand's Haide (1951)
  • Dark Mirrors (1951)
  • Bottom's Dream (1970)

Translations by Author

  • Translation of Edgar Allan Poe's works

Translations of Works

  • Numerous English translations (John E. Woods etc.)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Unique orthographyColloquial language adaptationEtym theory
Recurring Motifs
LeviathanApocalyptic themesIndividualism

Health

  • Stroke
    1979
    Cause of death

Legacy

One of the most important German-language writers of the 20th century. Arno Schmidt Foundation preserves his legacy.

Museums

  • Arno Schmidt Foundation Bargfeld

Archives

  • Arno Schmidt Foundation (Bargfeld)

In Popular Culture

  • Mentioned in Roberto Bolaño's 2666

Trivia

  • Pessimistic worldview shaped by Nazi Germany experience
  • Little known outside German-speaking areas due to translation challenges