Literature of Luxembourg

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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 (French, German and Luxembourgish), 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). [1]

Contents

Yolanda of Vianden

Codex Mariendalensis (c. 1310) Codex Mariendalensis page.jpg
Codex Mariendalensis (c. 1310)

There is one historic work which has recently gained a place in Luxembourg literature. The Codex Mariendalensis, a manuscript from the beginning of the 14th century, tells the story of Yolanda of Vianden. Discovered in Ansembourg in November 1999, it is believed to be the work of Brother Hermann von Veldenz, who wrote the story of Yolanda's life after her death in 1283. It consists of 5,963 lines of rhyming couplets in the distinctive Moselle Franconian German dialect, which bears close similarities to today's Luxembourgish. The poem tells how Princess Yolanda gave up the comforts of her home in Vianden Castle to join the Convent of Marienthal where she later became the prioress. [2]

19th century

Despite the use of French and German for administrative purposes, it was Lëtzebuerger Däitsch, now known as Luxembourgish, which was behind the development of Luxembourg's literature in the 19th century, contributing much to the consolidation of the national identity.

In 1829, Antoine Meyer published the very first book in Luxembourgish, a collection of poems titled E' Schrek op de' Lezeburger Parnassus (A Step up the Luxembourg Parnassus). The book contains six poems: a love poem, Uen d'Christine (Without Christine); a meditation on the romantic subject of night, D'Nuecht" (The Night); a real-life depiction, Een Abléck an engem Wiertshaus zu Lëtzebuerg (A Moment in a Luxembourg Inn); and three fables, D'porzelains an d'ierde Schierbel (The Shard of Porcelain and the Earthen Pot), D'Spéngel an d'Nol (The Pin and the Needle) and D'Flou an de Pierdskrécher (The Fly and the Horse Trough). Although Aesop and La Fontaine built their fables around animals, Meyer often personified inanimate objects. For example, in D'Spéngel an d'Nol, the well-to-do Miss Needle tries but fails to override the Pin, reflecting the failure of the French aristocracy to prevent the French Revolution. Meyer was to write several more books of Luxembourgish poetry while teaching mathematics at the University of Liège. [3]

Monument to Dicks and Michel Lentz on the Place d'Armes, Luxembourg Dicks-Lentz monument.JPG
Monument to Dicks and Michel Lentz on the Place d'Armes, Luxembourg

The next generation brought three poets who are now considered to be Luxembourg's classical authors. Edmond de la Fontaine (1823–1891), better known by his pen-name Dicks, is remembered above all for his contributions to the theatre. His comedy De Scholtschäin (1855), the first play to be performed in Luxembourgish, was followed by D'Mumm Sèiss (1855), the operetta D'Kirmesgäscht (1856) and De Ramplassang (1863). He also wrote several poems and a number of prose works about Luxembourg and its people. [4] [5] His contemporary, Michel Lentz (1820–1893), another poet, is best known for having written Ons Heemecht , Luxembourg's national anthem, which contributed much to promoting the Luxembourgish language among its inhabitants. [6] However, it was Michel Rodange (1827–1876) who wrote Luxembourg's national epic, Renert odder de Fuuss am Frack an a Maansgréisst or simply Rénert the Fox . Published in 1872, the satirical work is an adaptation of the traditional Low German fox epic to a setting in Luxembourg with pertinent insights into the characteristics of the local people. [1]

While little of note was written in German during this period, Félix Thyes (1830–1855) wrote the first Luxembourg novel in French, Marc Bruno, profil d'artiste, which was published shortly after his early death in 1855. [7]

Early 20th century

Nikolaus Welter (1871-1951) Nik Welter.jpg
Nikolaus Welter (1871-1951)

Batty Weber (1860–1940) worked both as a journalist and as an author of short stories, novels, plays and poems, contributing much to the development of Luxembourg culture. One of his most important contributions to Luxembourg's identity was his Abreisskalender or Tear-Off Calendar, a daily column he contributed from 1913 to 1940 to the "Luxembuger Zeitung", commenting on items of local cultural interest. [8]

An important literary figure in the early 20th century was Nikolaus Welter (1871–1951), who addressed Luxembourg issues in his German-language plays including Die Söhne des Öslings (1904) and as a poet in Hochofen (1913). Welter is also regarded as Luxembourg's first literary historian. [9]

Contemporary literature

After a rather quiet period following the Second World War, Anise Koltz (born 1928) began her literary career in the 1950s, initially writing fairy tales in German and Luxembourgish. However, in the 1970s, after the death of her husband who had been tortured by the Nazis, she turned exclusively to writing poetry in French. Her books have been widely published and translated into several languages. In 1998, she was awarded the Prix Guillaume Apollinaire for Le mur du son. Koltz has done much to create interest in Luxembourg writers through her annual Journées littéraires de Mondorf (Mondorf Literary Days) which she launched in 1963. She is now widely considered the country's most important contemporary author. [10]

Jean Portante (born 1950) is a successful contemporary poet and novelist, not just in Luxembourg but in the wider French-speaking world. Brought up in an Italian immigrant family, he chose French as the language for his works. While primarily known as a poet, he has also written short stories, plays, screenplays and novels. He has also translated the works of Juan Gelman and Gonzalo Rojas into French. [11] Jean Krier, writing poetry in German, was awarded both the German Chamisso Prize and the Luxembourg Servais Prize in 2011 for his Herzens Lust Spiele. [12]

Novels in Luxembourgish

Luxembourgish literature was long confined to poetry and the theatre, but in the 1980s, as a result of the movement to make Luxembourgish an official language, Guy Rewenig (born 1947) and Roger Manderscheid (1933–2010) both wrote novels in Luxembourgish. Rewenig's Hannert dem Atlantik (1985) broke new ground as the first novel written in the local language. The story of Jemp Medinger, a street sweeper, it is a critical account of the problems of family life and the authoritarian structures of politics and society, adapting the "stream of consciousness" technique to experiment with the Luxembourgish lexicon. [13]

Manderscheid's childhood trilogy Schacko klak, De papagei um kâschtebam and Feier a flam, published in 1988, surprisingly sold 3,000 copies. "Schacko klak" is in fact a kind of autobiography told by an outsider. The title is a play on words reminding the reader of both a top hat (from French) and a military helmet (from German) but it is simply a nickname for the author alluding to his rounded bald head. Manderscheid's book reveals the author's consciousness of language use in Luxembourg, describing comical incidents with German soldiers in the war as well as the rather artificial use of French (based essentially on the language taught in the classroom). His use of Luxembourgish allows him to achieve this most effectively. [13] [14]

These initiatives led to a wider interest in writing novels in Luxembourgish. Among those published since 1990 are Frascht by Nico Helminger, Angscht virum Groussen Tunn, by Jean-Michel Treinen, Perl oder Pica by Jhemp Hoscheit, Iwwer Waasser by Georges Hausemer, and a number of novels by Josy Braun including Porto fir d'Affekoten and Kréiwénkel. [1]

Literature prizes

Luxembourg has two major literature prizes: the Servais Prize which has been awarded annually since 1992 to a Luxembourg author for a specific work; and the Batty Weber Prize, considered to be the national literary prize, which has been awarded once every three years since 1987 to a Luxembourg author for his entire literary work. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ons Heemecht</span> National anthem of Luxembourg

"Ons Heemecht" is the national anthem of Luxembourg. Written by Michel Lentz in 1859 and set to music by Jean Antoine Zinnen in 1864, it is performed at national celebrations, while the royal anthem, or, more accurately, the grand ducal anthem, "De Wilhelmus", is performed at entrances or exits of members of the Grand Ducal Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rumelange</span> Commune in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Rumelange is a commune with town status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volksdeutsche Bewegung</span> Political party in Luxembourg

Volksdeutsche Bewegung was a Nazi movement in Luxembourg that flourished under the German-occupied Luxembourg during World War II.

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.

<i>Luxemburger Wort</i> Luxembourgish daily newspaper

Luxemburger Wort is a German-language Luxembourgish daily newspaper. There is an English edition named the Luxembourg Times. It is owned by Mediahuis Luxembourg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Literature Centre</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Portante</span> Luxembourg writer (born 1950)

Jean Portante is a Luxembourgish writer who resides in Paris. He has written novels, stories, plays, journalistic articles and poetry, and has been widely translated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Manderscheid</span>

Roger Manderscheid was a writer from Luxembourg. He won the Batty Weber Prize in 1990 for his literary work and the inaugural Servais Prize in 1992 for De Papagei um Käschtebam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luxembourgish art</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batty Weber</span>

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.

Anise Koltz was a Luxembourgish contemporary author. Best known for her poetry and her translations of poems, she also wrote a number of children's stories. In 1962, she was a cofounder with Nic Weber of the successful literary conference series Journées littéraires de Mondorf in which she has always played a key role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antoine Meyer</span> Poet (1801–1857)

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Rewenig</span>

Guy Rewenig 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 Luxemburgish.

The Batty Weber Prize or Prix Batty Weber is Luxembourg's national literary prize. It has been awarded every three years since 1987 to a Luxembourg writer for his entire literary work. It is named after the writer Batty Weber (1860–1940) who considerably influenced Luxembourg's cultural life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nico Helminger</span> Luxembourg author (born 1953)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lambert Schlechter</span> Luxembourg author (born 1941)

Lambert Schlechter is a Luxembourg author who has published some 40 books written in French, most of them published in France and two written in German published in Luxembourg. His work includes poetry, novels, short stories and essays. A great number of contributions to newspapers, magazines and anthologies in different countries. Since 2006 he is working on a greater prose project under the general title "Le Murmure du monde": a collection of literary, philosophical and autobiographical fragments; so far nine volumes have been published, X, XI and XII are in preparation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georges Hausemer</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josy Braun</span>

Josy (Joseph) Braun was a Luxembourg writer, journalist and translator who wrote mainly in Luxembourgish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Helminger</span> Luxembourg author (born 1963)

Guy Helminger is a Luxembourgish author who has written a number of successful novels and plays in German.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caspar Mathias Spoo</span>

Caspar Mathias Spoo was a Luxembourgish industrialist and politician.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Georges Hausemer, "About... Literature in Luxembourg", Press and Information Service of the Luxembourg government, March 2004, ISBN   2-87999-020-3. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  2. "Luxemburg, Bibl. Nationale, Ms. 860", Marburger Repertorium, Deutschsprachige Handschriften des 13. und 14. Jahrhunderts. (in German) Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  3. R. Muller, "Les débuts de la littérature luxembourgophone", Projet 'Formatioun Lëtzebuergesch', ULG – Campus d'Arlon, 17 February 2007. (in French) Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  4. "Littérature en luxembourgeois", Encyclopédie Larousse. (in French) Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  5. "Fontaine, Edmond (Lucien Irvin) de la", Luxemburger Lexikon, Editions Guy Binsfeld, 2006. (in German)
  6. Lentz, Michel (Méchel)", Luxemburger Lexikon, Editions Guy Binsfeld, Luxembourg, 2006- (in German)
  7. "Thys, Félix", Luxemburger Lexikon, Editions Guy Binsfeld, Luxembourg, 2006. (in German)
  8. Sylvie Kremer-Schmit, "Batty Weber", Ons stad, No 35, 1990. (in German) Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  9. "Nik Welter". (in German)
  10. "Anise Koltz" Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine , Arc Publications. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  11. "Jean Portante" Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine , Transcript 26/27. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  12. "Noch ein Preis für Jean Krier" Archived 2012-03-24 at the Wayback Machine , Luxemburger Wort, 23 March 2011. (in German) Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  13. 1 2 Marie-Anne Hansen-Pauly, "The Languages of Literature as a Reflection of Social Realities and Traditions in Luxembourg" in Manfred Schmeling and Monika Schmitz-Emans, "Multilinguale Literatur im 20. Jahrhundert", Könighausen & Neumann, Gmbh, Würzburg, 2002, p. 148 et seq. ISBN   3-8260-2047-2. Online here.
  14. R. Muller, "Les débuts de la littérature luxembourgophone", Projet « Formatioun Lëtzebuergesch: ULG – Campus d'Arlon, 17 February 2007. (in French) Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  15. "Prix et concours littéraires", Portail du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. (in French) Retrieved 11 February 2011.