Hans Carossa
Hans Carossa was a German poet and novelist born on December 15, 1878, in Tölz, Bavaria. He initially pursued a career in medicine, studying at various universities, and served as an army doctor during World War I, where he was wounded on the Western Front. His experiences in the medical field and the war greatly influenced his literary work, with his best-known novel, "Der Arzt Gion," addressing the traumatic aftermath of conflict. Carossa practiced as a family physician in Munich until 1929, infusing his writing with insights from his medical career.
After 1933, he maintained an apolitical stance and distanced himself from the Nazi Party, producing works that appealed to a broad audience. His autobiographical novel "Eine Kindheit" and its sequels are celebrated for their engaging prose. Additionally, "Führung und Geleit" features affectionate essays on notable literary figures such as Mann and Rilke. Throughout his career, Carossa garnered significant recognition, receiving the Goethe Prize in 1938 and later becoming president of the European Writers' Union. He passed away on September 12, 1956, and is remembered as a prominent author of the Weimar Republic, known for his graceful style and themes centered around love, life, and friendship.
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Subject Terms
Hans Carossa
Author
- Born: December 15, 1878
- Birthplace: Tölz, Bavaria, Germany
- Died: September 12, 1956
- Place of death: Rittsteig bei Passau, Germany
Biography
Hans Carossa was born in Tölz, Bavaria, Germany, on December 15, 1878. As the son of a physician, Carossa became deeply involved in the medical world and decided to pursue a career in this field along with his vocation as a writer. Following his studies in medicine at the Universities of Munich, Wurzburg and Leipzig, Carossa served in World War I as an army doctor and was wounded on the western front. He continued to practice as a family physician in Munich until 1929, using his professional experience as a source for his literature.
Deeply influenced by his military service, Carossa’s best-selling work was Der Arzt Gion, which chronicled the debilitating effects of war along with his own harrowing experiences. Most of Carossa’s works were translated into English, and as a result, were able to reach a wider audience. After 1933, Carossa continued writing novels that extended to a larger public by sustaining an apolitical perspective and by avoiding any affiliation with the Nazi Party. Among his best-known books are his autobiographical novel Eine Kindheit (childhood) and its sequels, which are specifically noted for their clear and engaging style. Another popular work, Führung und Geleit, contains affectionate short essays about his literary contemporaries and friends, including writers like Mann, Rilke, and Hesse.
In 1938, he received the Goethe Prize, and in 1942, he was appointed president of the European Writers’ Union. Carossa died in Rittsteig bei Passau on September 12, 1956. As a German poet and novelist, Carossa is regarded as one of the most popular and best-selling authors during the Weimar years. His simple and graceful style and preoccupation with themes such as love, life, and friendship significantly contributed to his popularity as a post-war writer.