Hermann Broch

Hermann Broch (November 1, 1886 - May 30, 1951) was a 20th century Austrian writer, considered one of the major Modernists.

Work

His major work, The Death of Virgil (Der Tod des Vergil), which he began to write while imprisoned in a concentration camp, was first published in the U.S., in an English translation, in 1945. This great, difficult novel, in which reality and hallucination, poetry and prose are inextricably mingled, reenacts the last hours of life of the Roman poet Virgil, in the port of Brundisium (Brindisi), where he accompanied Augustus, his decision to burn his Aeneid, frustrated by the emperor, and his final reconciliation with his destiny.

Related Topics:
The Death of Virgil - Concentration camp - English - 1945 - Roman - Virgil - Brindisi - Augustus - Aeneid

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Other important works by Broch are The Sleepwalkers (Die Schlafwandler, 1932), and The Guiltless (Die Schuldlosen, 1950). "The Sleepwalkers" is a trilogy, where Broch takes "the degeneration of values" as his main theme. The trilogy has been praised by Milan Kundera, whose own writing has been greatly influenced by Broch. Broch writes in a light, playfully meandering style, despite the philosophical approach.

Related Topics:
1932 - 1950

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