Guy Rewenig (born 31 August 1947) is a Luxembourg author and novelist. In 1984, he wrote the first novel in the Luxembourgish language although poems and theatrical works had appeared in the 19th century. Together with Roger Manderscheid, he is credited for initiating the current trend for novels written in Luxembourgish. [1]
Born on 31 August 1947 in Luxembourg City, Rewenig completed his secondary school education at the Athénée de Luxembourg before being trained as a schoolteacher at the Institut pédagogique. He taught first in the primary school at Bettembourg and from 1971 in Esch-sur-Alzette. In 1984, he gave up teaching to become a full-time independent writer and moved to Nospelt. [2]
In 1963, Rewenig published his first film reviews in the Luxemburger Wort. His first play "Interview" appeared in 1970 as did Als der Feigenbaum verdorrte, a collection of essays. From 1973, he also began to write for children, his highly successful collection of children's stories Muschkilusch. Geschichte fir Kanner appearing in 1990. In 1985, Guy Rewenig published Hannert dem Atlantik, [3] the very first novel to appear in Luxembourgish, paving the way for other works of fiction to be written in the local language. Rewenig writes in German, Luxembourgish and French. His novel Roman Mass mat dräi Hären was translated into French by Jean Portante as La cathédrale en flammes. He has also written many satirical works criticizing the social and political shortcomings of Luxembourg life and has frequently contributed articles to Luxembourg newspapers and periodicals. [2]
In 1974, he was a founding member of the Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigrés and in 2000, together with Roger Manderschied, he founded the publishing house Ultimomondo where his works now appear. In 2010, he published the novel Sibiresch Eisebunn under the penname Tania Naskandy. [2]
Rewenig has received many awards in Luxembourg including the first prize for the Concours littéraire national in 1984, 1988 and 1991; the Batty Weber Prize in 2005; and the Prix Servais in 2006 and 2010.
Luxembourgish is a West Germanic language that is spoken mainly in Luxembourg. About 400,000 people speak Luxembourgish worldwide.
Edmond de la Fontaine, better known by his pen name of Dicks, was a Luxembourgish jurist, poet, and lyricist, known for his work in the Luxembourgish language. He is considered the national poet of Luxembourg, and along with Michel Lentz and Michel Rodange, one of the most important figures in the history of Luxembourgian literature. In addition, his Luxemburger Sitten und Bräuche was one of the most influential early ethnographies on the Luxembourgian people.
The Music of Luxembourg is an important component of the country's cultural life. The new Philharmonie concert hall provides a venue for orchestral concerts while opera is frequently presented in the theatres. Rock, pop and jazz are also popular with a number of successful performers. The wide general interest in music and musical activities in Luxembourg can be seen from the membership of the Union Grand-Duc Adolphe, the national music federation for choral societies, brass bands, music schools, theatrical societies, folklore associations and instrumental groups. Some 340 music groups and associations with over 17,000 individual members are currently represented by the organization.
Luxembourg has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 37 times since its debut at the first contest in 1956. The nation participated in all but one event between 1956 and 1993, only missing the 1959 contest. After finishing among the bottom seven countries in 1993, Luxembourg was relegated and prevented from competing in 1994. The nation did not return to the contest in 1995, and would make no further appearances over the next three decades. The country is set to return to the event for the first time in 31 years in 2024.
The linguistic situation in Luxembourg is characterized by the practice and the recognition of three official languages: French, German, and the national language Luxembourgish, established in law in 1984. These three languages are also referred to as the three administrative languages, as the constitution does not specify them as being "official". As of 2018, 98% of the population was able to speak French at more or less a high level, 78% spoke German, and 77% Luxembourgish.
The culture of Luxembourg refers to the cultural life and traditions of Luxembourg. Most citizens are trilingual, speaking French and German in addition to the Germanic national language of Luxembourgish. Although its contributions to the arts are not largely known outside its borders, Luxembourg has a rich cultural history, especially in music, painting and photography. Its evolving museums, concert halls, theatres and galleries testify to its citizens' growing appreciation of culture.
Luxemburger Wort is a German-language Luxembourgish daily newspaper. There is an English edition named the Luxembourg Times. It is owned by Mediahuis Luxembourg.
The National Literature Centre, abbreviated CNL, is the national literary archive of Luxembourg. It is based in the town of Mersch, about 15 kilometers to the north of Luxembourg City. Created as a research library in 1995, the CNL's collections include more than 40,000 volumes, a majority of them written by authors of Luxembourgish descent or residing in Luxembourg, as well as an ever-growing collection of manuscripts, letters and personal items. The library also collects newspaper clippings relating to Luxembourgish literature and literary journals and serials. As one of Luxembourg's legal deposit libraries, it receives copies of nearly all books produced in Luxembourg and actively purchases monographs by Luxembourgish authors printed abroad.
Multilingualism is a part of everyday life for the population of Luxembourg. Legally and socially, different sectors of Luxembourg use French, German, and Luxembourgish, which is a variety of Moselle Franconian, partially mutually intelligible with the neighbouring High German but with a large number of loanwords from French. Additionally, most citizens learn English and may study other languages as well. A substantial immigrant population has brought numerous immigrant languages to the small state, notably Portuguese, which is spoken by more than one-fifth of the population. However, the different languages are used in different social situations.
Tageblatt is a German language daily newspaper published in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg by Editpress.
The Lëtzebuerger Journal is an online magazine in Luxembourg. It was formerly a daily newspaper published six times a week until 1 January 2021. The online magazine is currently managed by Daniel Nepgen, Lynn Warken and Melody Hansen (editor-in-chief).
Luxembourgish art can be traced back to Roman times, especially as depicted in statues found across the country and in the huge mosaic from Vichten. Over the centuries, Luxembourg's churches and castles have housed a number of cultural artefacts but these are nearly all ascribed to foreign artists. The first examples of art with a national flavour are paintings and maps of the City of Luxembourg and its fortifications from the end of the 16th until the beginning of the 19th century, although these too were mostly created by foreign artists. Real interest in art among the country's own citizens began in the 19th century with paintings of Luxembourg and the surroundings after the country became a grand duchy in 1815. This was followed by interest in Impressionism and Expressionism in the early 20th century, the richest period in Luxembourg painting, while Abstraction became the focus of art after the Second World War. Today there are a number of successful contemporary artists, some of whom have gained wide international recognition.
Batty (Jean-Baptiste) Weber (1860–1940) is considered to have been one of Luxembourg's most influential journalists and authors, contributing much to the development of the country's national identity. His style is characterized by his sense of humour and skillful use of irony.
Antoine Meyer, also known as Antun or Tun Meyer (1801–1857) was a Luxembourg-born mathematician and poet who later adopted Belgian nationality. Sometimes referred to as the father of Luxembourgish literature, he is remembered for publishing the very first book in Luxembourgish, a collection of six poems entitled "E' Schrek ob de' lezeburger Parnassus".
Nico Helminger is a Luxembourg author who has written poetry, novels, plays and libretti for operas. In 2008, he was awarded the Batty Weber Prize for his literary work.
The literature of Luxembourg is little known beyond the country's borders, partly because Luxembourg authors write in one or more of the three official languages, partly because many works are specifically directed to a local readership. Furthermore, it was not until the 19th century that the literature of Luxembourg began to develop in parallel with growing awareness of the country's national identity following the Treaty of Paris (1815) and the Treaty of London (1867).
Georges Hausemer was a Luxembourgish writer who published short stories, novels, travelogues and non-fictional works and also translated a considerable number of works from French, English, Spanish and Luxembourgish into German. Sometimes using the pen name Theo Selmer, he also worked as an illustrator.
Guy Helminger is a Luxembourgish author who has written a number of successful novels and plays in German.
Tony Bourg was a Luxembourgish professor, author, linguist, and literary scholar and critic.
Henri Koch-Kent was a Luxembourgish publicist author, historian, active in the Luxembourgish Resistance during World War II.
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