The Angel With The Trumpet Of Ernst Lothar Review

Large Ernst Lothar had in mind when he wrote this novel: “all those who do not or did not know enough to give a picture-Austria in hand, who made an attempt to look behind the facade and the image to show the shadows. ” Without nationalist colored embellishment still embittered settlement there should be a differentiated portrait of Austria’s development, are since the collapse of the Habsburg Empire about the “connection” to the Nazi war everyday that clearly distinguishes the dark realities, but also “with one hand […] on the basis of the Austrian eternity is.

” His intendiertes audience were Americans and British, because he wrote the book in exile in the US, where it was first published in English translation 1944th.

Although filmed in Lothar’s home country in 1948, the novel was published there in 1963 ( Zsolnay). There were, “a new, free Austria” had promised since the Allies in 1945, moved into the country almost twenty years and “black shadow” had thrown. The author extended for the German-language edition his epilogue: at that time.

“Had America and England to be reminded of what Austria is and today you have to Austria remember”.

Literary offers this novel today the concept, all protagonists to settle as representatives of the most important social phenomena in a magnificent Viennese city palace. Its positioning – in the first district, the “heart of Vienna”, the capital – refers to its more important than “the house of Austria […] It is to the eternal principles of human nature, where it remains on the earth and sky the next.

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. ” So we read in sync on several levels. The family, the house, the country

The piano manufacturer Alt, “Imperial-Royal Court”, the building erected on the corner of Seilerstätte and Annagasse 1790/91 as living and commercial building with ground floor, mezzanine and three storeys. By the respected upper-class family enlarged and branched, it will be rebuilt and expanded. Before the action starts on May 9, 1888, takes us to the narrator by the hand, led us through six pages from door to door, from floor to floor, as we would marvel at a big doll house, and gives us a first impression of the flights of fancy and . precipices a fine family – a small masterpiece of trenchant portraits full of delicate, charming, ironic peaks and swipes a harmless toy is certainly not what the author presents: “they lived, they live in a contradictory , shady, winding, senseless and sensual, wonderfully beautiful, dangerous, standing in the center, deep basement, demonic house. ” Whose main entrance adorns the titular “Angel with the trumpet.” Neither with the coats of arms nor the profession emblems of the neighboring houses he is related, artistically a masterpiece. As a pure decoration it is functionally independent enough to convey symbolic changing of the times messages, sometimes triumphant times admonishing times jubilant, sometimes to blow, punitive.

The unrelated, intermarried and verschwippten residents are everything but an ensemble. Entertaining and amusing tells how everyone has their own interests pursued, they come into each other’s way and vigorously superimposed strutting.

Franz Alt, the grandson of the founder, his fiancee Henriette Stein ( “Hetti”) to marriage does, it’s over with the tranquility of the past hundred years. It seems the family an unpopular foreign bodies and shocking them with the outrageous intention to increase the house to a fourth floor. Such changes Guru equal something subversive hold.

The Savory to Francis’ marriage is that the Jewish professor’s daughter (a purely fictional character) before a love affair with none other than the Archduke Rudolf had entertained. Despite some Tuschelns the groom does not know anything and the affair should remain Hettis eternal mystery. So hot and sincere mutual love was a common future with the crown prince – son of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth ( “Sisi”) and married to pressure the father to Stephanie of Belgium – never came into question. Therefore, Henriette chose the safe haven of a middle-class marriage to a manufacturer. On the day of her marriage to the unfortunate Archduke on Mayerling shoots – because of them, believe Henriette. The man at her side she spurned life.

In the family Old Henriette is never really received. Warily watching each all what undertakes the extravagant, self-willed lady. A momentous affair makes her finally persona non grata. But would add Henriette never. Persistent and persevering she endures its isolated role where it can not change that.

Past events between politics, tragedy and scandal ( “about personalities of the Most High House”) weaves the author credible with the fictional experiences of his Characters. DC at the opening of the house in 1791 presents an internationally bejubelter Star his latest opera, titled “The Magic Flute”. Unfortunately, the composer leaves as he presents his piano version, purely external “a picture of misery and disorder”. In the narrative flow, the suffering of the young Crown Prince and Henriette Stein role in forming an early element of tension, followed later by another, sometimes very cruel events.

The dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary disintegrates. Hans and Hermann, the sons of Henriette and Francis, go to the First World War. After the end of which is k. u. k. Monarchie eliminated crush the kingdom. Free republics are proclaimed, Vienna is governed social democratic.

At the traditional family, none of the two sons has a special interest. Hermann joins the Nazi party and is developing into a confident, dangerous fascists. His brother Hans had artistic ambitions, but had at the art school “unsatisfactory work” certify leave – just like its competitors, “Adolf Hitler”. After the war he continues the piano factory, without being able to provide for his workers special royal reputation. Inevitably opens the still convinced monarchist social democratic ideas. With his spouse, the Jewess Selma Rosner, attracting a flirty, confident and discussion joyful young woman into the house. As an actress she enjoys great success at the Burgtheater.

Franz Alt, the mirror figure to Emperor Franz Joseph is traumatized returned from the war. Both Austria there are not more, both world has gone down, faded both personal glory. The former producer, accosted in the street by a proletarian and increasingly dependent on Henriette’s care, no longer leaves the house Seilerstätte 10th The ex-Majesty remains nothing but to await the imminent death of one of the many unheated rooms of Schönbrunn Palace lonely. Wishes

After Francis’ death Henriette than 73-year-old widow out of the house to take off. But since the situation has worsened once again: Now give the Nazi prison officers entry and take over with their robust methods the entire company. The telling story ends 1938th.

Ernst Lothar (1890-1974) was a versatile man. Doctorate in law made a career in the Department of Commerce, published in 1911 poems, stories, short stories, a play and several novels, co-founder was the Salzburg Festival and later director and theater director. After the “Anschluss” of Austria in 1938, he emigrated to America. He wrote five novels in the English language, of which “The Angel with the Trumpet” scored the biggest success. After the war, he did great things for the reconstruction of the theater culture in Austria, among others as a director at the Burgtheater and in Salzburg.

“The angel with the trumpet” is a comprehensive, traditional-scale novel. The material wealth – complex characters, numerous episodes, the complex entanglements with the historical developments in turbulent times – is overwhelming and allows a deep insight into the lifestyle of the era. Automobiles are about to Franz Alt nothing but “modern swindle” and dangerous “instruments of torture”. As apparently since time immemorial customs of date (especially among the women: they wear short skirts and short hair, Skiing, appear in the Imperial Theater in blouse instead of hard clothing). At least in the Seilerstätte 10, it sticks to the familiar traditions. “As twenty years ago” – returning soldiers Hans can not believe – sits the family Old lordly on finely set table, and a servant, serving the food.

So the reader to demanding and diverse manner is well maintained.. Henriette intra- and extra-marital love stories ever touchieren the trivial, but the family intrigues, in the mysterious death of her daughter, the “Red” Selma, lead, develop exciting as a thriller. The events described in War and Nazism finally provide plenty of drama and tragedy.

Lothar cultured language sounds today places slightly pathetic. ( “If he wanted to ‘just say not always” Mother! “); On the other hand, many dialogues elated a well transcribed Viennese tone ( “Go, let di’net rags – can you pump’s yes – go, Schorscherl, gölt – s’is virtually bestöllt …”).