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Christa Reinig

クリスタ・ライニッヒ

Kurisuta Rainihhi

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1926-08-06 （Berlin）
Died
2008-09-30 （Munich） age 82
Nationality
German
Languages
German
Residence History
Eastern Berlin → Munich

Career

Occupations
poet, fiction writer, non-fiction writer, dramatist
Active Years
1946-2008
Affiliations
Märkisches Museum
Influenced By
Bertolt Brecht

Education

Humboldt University
art history
Period: 1950年代
Country: Germany
Obtained Abitur at night school before studying; no degree mentioned

Awards

Bremen Literature Prize
1964
Work: Gedichte
Organization: City of Bremen
Result: 受賞
Villa Massimo Fellowship
1965
Organization: German Academy in Rome
Result: 受賞
Hörspielpreis der Kriegsblinden
1968
Work: Das Aquarium
Organization: Bund der Kriegsblinden
Result: 受賞
Toucan Prize of the City of Munich
1969
Work: Schwabinger Marterln
Organization: City of Munich
Result: 受賞
Literary Award of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts
1973
Organization: Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts
Result: 受賞
German Critics' Prize
1975
Work: Die Prüfung des Lächlers
Result: 受賞
Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
1976
Organization: Federal Republic of Germany
Result: 受賞
SWR-Bestenliste Prize
1984
Work: Sämtliche Gedichte
Result: 受賞
Roswitha Prize
1993
Organization: City of Bad Gandersheim
Result: 受賞
Brandenburg Literature Prize
1999
Result: 受賞
Kester-Haeusler Award
2003
Organization: German Schiller Foundation
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Die himmlische und die irdische Geometrie

1975 novel

Autobiographical novel depicting her life from proletarian origins in East Berlin during the Cold War.

autobiographywomen's livesCold War

Entmannung: die Geschichte Ottos und seiner vier Frauen

1976 novel

Satirical novel on emasculation, revealing patriarchalism in male and female thinking.

feminismpatriarchalismsatire

Müßiggang ist aller Liebe Anfang

1979 poetry

Poetry cycle where she first expressed her lesbianism.

lesbianismloveirony
Translations
  • English: Idleness is the Root of All Love

Die Prüfung des Lächlers

1970 poetry

Collected poems that won the German Critics' Prize.

black humorirony

Die Ballade vom blutigen Bomme

1952 poetry

Early ballad that gained attention in the West, mix of cynicism and sadness.

cynicismsadness

Translations by Author

  • Marina Tsvetaeva: Gedichte

Translations of Works

  • Müßiggang ist aller Liebe Anfang (English: Idleness is the Root of All Love)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
black humorironyallegorical and metaphysicalbrash life-affirming sarcasmextremely refined simplicity
Recurring Motifs
lesbianismfeminism (later distanced)outsider statuswomen living without menpatriarchalism

Health

  • ankylosing spondylitis
    1950年代-1964
    Caused crooked spine; left X-ray on museum desk when fleeing to West
  • broken neck
    1971
    Fall from spiral staircase left her severely disabled, unable to use typewriter until fitted with special glasses in 1973

Legacy

Rebellious poet and writer known for black humor and irony. Fled East to West Germany, openly lesbian, key feminist writer in 1970s but distanced by late 1980s. Papers left to German Literature Archive in Marbach.

Archives

  • German Literature Archive (Marbach am Neckar)

Quotes

  • I am a lesbian writer just as much as I am a woman writer.
    Source: interview at age sixty (1986)
  • Sometimes the gay shirt is closer to me than the feminist skirt.
    Source: Müßiggang ist aller Liebe Anfang (1979)

Trivia

  • Worked as a Trümmerfrau clearing rubble after WWII.
  • Sold flowers on Alexanderplatz in the 1940s.
  • Debuted in Ulenspiegel magazine at Bertolt Brecht's urging.
  • Banned from publishing in East Germany; defected to West in 1964 after Bremen Literature Prize.
  • Broke her neck falling down a spiral staircase in 1971.
  • Openly lesbian, coming out in her works.