Luise Rinser
Encyclopedia
Luise Rinser was a German writer.
, in Upper Bavaria. Her birth house still exists. She was educated in a Volksschule
in Munich, where she scored high marks on her exams. After the exams, she worked as an aide in various schools in Upper Bavaria, where she learned the reformed pedagogical style of Franz Seitz, who influenced her teaching and writing. During these years, she wrote her first short stories for the journal Herdfeuer. She refused to join the Nazi Party, but after 1936 belonged to the NS-Frauenschaft and until 1939 she also belonged to the Teacher's Association. In 1939, she resigned from teaching and was married. In 1944 she was denounced for undermining military morale, and imprisoned; the end of the war stopped the legal proceedings against her, which probably would have concluded with a death sentence. She described her experience in the Traunstein
women's prison in her Prison Journals (Gefängnistagebuch) of 1946. She described herself in an ode to Adolf Hitler
as opposed to the Nazis. Her first husband, and the father of both her sons, the composer and choir director Horst Günther Schnell, died on the Russian Front
. Afterward, she married the communist writer Klaus Herrmann, but this marriage was annulled about 1952. From 1945 to 1953, she was a freelance writer for the New Daily News (Munich), and she established her residence in that city.
In 1954, she married the composer Carl Orff
and they divorced in 1960. She formed a tight friendship with the Korean composer Isang Yun
, with the abbot of a monastery, and with the theologian Karl Rahner
. In 1959, she lived in Rome, and then in 1965 in Rocca di Papa
, near Rome, where she was recognized as an honored resident in 1986. Afterward, she lived until her death at her apartment in Munich.
Rinser kept herself active in political and social discussions in Germany. She supported Willy Brandt
in his 1971/72 campaign, and demonstrated with the writers Heinrich Böll
, Günter Grass
and many others against the retrofitting of Germany with Pershing rockets. She became a sharp critic of the Catholic Church, although she never left it and she was an accredited journalist at the Second Vatican Council
. She also criticized, in open letters, the prosecution of Andreas Baader
and Gudrun Ensslin
, and others, and wrote to Ensslin's father: "Gudrun has a friend in me for life.". In 1972, she traveled to the Soviet Union
, the USA Spain
, India
, Indonesia
, South Korea
, North Korea
, and Iran
– she saw the Revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini
as "a shining model for the states of the Third World." – Japan
, Colombia
and many other countries. She engaged herself for the abolition of the Abortion paragraph § 218 in its current form. She served as a leading voice for the Catholic Left in Germany.
In 1984, she was proposed by the Greens as a candidate for the office of President of Germany
.
Early life and education
Luise Rinser was born on 30 April 1911 in Pitzling, a constituent community of Landsberg am LechLandsberg am Lech
Landsberg am Lech is a town in southwest Bavaria, Germany, about 65 kilometers west of Munich and 35 kilometers south of Augsburg. It is the capital of the district of Landsberg am Lech....
, in Upper Bavaria. Her birth house still exists. She was educated in a Volksschule
Volksschule
A Volksschule was an 18th century system of state-supported primary schools established in the Habsburg Austrian Empire and Prussia . Attendance was supposedly compulsory, but a 1781 census reveals that only one fourth of school-age children attended. At the time, this was one of the few examples...
in Munich, where she scored high marks on her exams. After the exams, she worked as an aide in various schools in Upper Bavaria, where she learned the reformed pedagogical style of Franz Seitz, who influenced her teaching and writing. During these years, she wrote her first short stories for the journal Herdfeuer. She refused to join the Nazi Party, but after 1936 belonged to the NS-Frauenschaft and until 1939 she also belonged to the Teacher's Association. In 1939, she resigned from teaching and was married. In 1944 she was denounced for undermining military morale, and imprisoned; the end of the war stopped the legal proceedings against her, which probably would have concluded with a death sentence. She described her experience in the Traunstein
Traunstein
Traunstein is a town in the south-eastern part of Bavaria, Germany, and is the administrative center of a district by the same name. It is situated at the heart of a region called Chiemgau, approximately 11 km east of Lake Chiemsee between Munich and Salzburg, 15 km north of the Alps, and...
women's prison in her Prison Journals (Gefängnistagebuch) of 1946. She described herself in an ode to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
as opposed to the Nazis. Her first husband, and the father of both her sons, the composer and choir director Horst Günther Schnell, died on the Russian Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. Afterward, she married the communist writer Klaus Herrmann, but this marriage was annulled about 1952. From 1945 to 1953, she was a freelance writer for the New Daily News (Munich), and she established her residence in that city.
In 1954, she married the composer Carl Orff
Carl Orff
Carl Orff was a 20th-century German composer, best known for his cantata Carmina Burana . In addition to his career as a composer, Orff developed an influential method of music education for children.-Early life:...
and they divorced in 1960. She formed a tight friendship with the Korean composer Isang Yun
Isang Yun
Isang Yun was a Korean-German composer originally from Korea. According to his official publisher's Boosey & Hawkes biography of him, he was granted political asylum by West Germany, eventually becoming a naturalised German citizen, following his abduction and torture in 1967 by the South Korean...
, with the abbot of a monastery, and with the theologian Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner, SJ was a German Jesuit and theologian who, alongside Bernard Lonergan and Hans Urs von Balthasar, is considered one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century...
. In 1959, she lived in Rome, and then in 1965 in Rocca di Papa
Rocca di Papa
Rocca di Papa is a small town and comune in the province of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani about 25 km south east of Rome on the Alban Hills. It is bounded by the other communes of Velletri, Rocca Priora, Monte Compatri, Grottaferrata, Albano and Marino...
, near Rome, where she was recognized as an honored resident in 1986. Afterward, she lived until her death at her apartment in Munich.
Rinser kept herself active in political and social discussions in Germany. She supported Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
in his 1971/72 campaign, and demonstrated with the writers Heinrich Böll
Heinrich Böll
Heinrich Theodor Böll was one of Germany's foremost post-World War II writers. Böll was awarded the Georg Büchner Prize in 1967 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1972.- Biography :...
, Günter Grass
Günter Grass
Günter Wilhelm Grass is a Nobel Prize-winning German author, poet, playwright, sculptor and artist.He was born in the Free City of Danzig...
and many others against the retrofitting of Germany with Pershing rockets. She became a sharp critic of the Catholic Church, although she never left it and she was an accredited journalist at the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. She also criticized, in open letters, the prosecution of Andreas Baader
Andreas Baader
Andreas Bernd Baader was one of the first leaders of the German left-wing militant organization Red Army Faction, also commonly known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang.- Life :...
and Gudrun Ensslin
Gudrun Ensslin
Gudrun Ensslin was a founder of the German militant group Red Army Faction . After becoming involved with co-founder Andreas Baader, Ensslin was influential in the politicization of Baader's voluntaristic anarchistic beliefs. Ensslin was perhaps the intellectual head of the RAF...
, and others, and wrote to Ensslin's father: "Gudrun has a friend in me for life.". In 1972, she traveled to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the USA Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
– she saw the Revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini
Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran...
as "a shining model for the states of the Third World." – Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and many other countries. She engaged herself for the abolition of the Abortion paragraph § 218 in its current form. She served as a leading voice for the Catholic Left in Germany.
In 1984, she was proposed by the Greens as a candidate for the office of President of Germany
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
.
Awards and honors
- 1952 René SchickeleRené SchickeleRené Schickele was a German-French writer, essayist and translator.-Biography:Schickele was born in Obernai, Alsace, the son of a German vineyard owner and police officer and a French mother. He studied literature, history, science and philosophy...
-Preis-Ehrung - 1975 Christophorus-Buchpreis der Christophorus-Stiftung des HUK-Verbandes
- 1977 Großes Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
- 1979 Roswitha-Gedenkmedaille (Roswitha-Preis) der Stadt Bad GandersheimBad GandersheimBad Gandersheim is a town in southern Lower Saxony, Germany, located in the district of Northeim. , it had a population 10,572.Bad Gandersheim has many half-timbered houses and is located on the German Framework Road .- Geography :...
- 1979 Premio letterario internazionale mediterraneo, Palermo, Italien
- 1980 Premio Europa, FiuggiFiuggiFiuggi is a comune in the province of Frosinone in the region of Lazio in central Italy.-History:Fiuggi, originally called Anticoli di Campagna, gained fame as early as the 14th century, when Pope Boniface VIII claimed his kidney stones had been healed by the mineral waters from the nearby Fiuggi...
, Italien - 1985 "Accademico ordinario" der Accademia tiberina, Rom, Italien
- 1985 Johannes BobrowskiJohannes BobrowskiJohannes Bobrowski was a German lyric poet, narrative writer, adaptor and essayist.-Life:Bobrowski was born in Tilsit in East Prussia. In 1925, he moved first to Rastenburg, then in 1928 on to Königsberg, where he attended the humanist Gymnasium. One of his teachers was Ernst Wiechert. In 1937, he...
-Medaille der CDU der DDR - 1986 Ehrendoktorwürde der Universität Pjöngjang (North KoreaNorth KoreaThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
) - 1987 Heinrich-Heine-Preis des Ministeriums für Kultur der DDRHeinrich-Heine-Preis des Ministeriums für Kultur der DDRHeinrich-Heine-Preis des Ministeriums für Kultur der DDR is a literary prize of Germany....
- 1987 Heinrich-Mann-Preis der Akademie der Künste der DDR
- 1987 "Donna in Arte", Provinz Rom, Italy
- 1987 "Autore dell'anno 1987", Città di Palestrina (Latium), Italy
- 1988 Elisabeth-Langgässer-Literaturpreis der Stadt AlzeyAlzeyAlzey is a Verband-free town – one belonging to no Verbandsgemeinde – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the fourth-largest town in Rhenish Hesse, after Mainz, Worms, and Bingen....
- 1988 Premio Giustina Rocca, TraniTraniTrani is a seaport of Apulia, southern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, in the new Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani , and 40 km by railway West-Northwest of Bari.- History :...
, Italy - 1991 Internationaler Literaturpreis Ignazio SiloneIgnazio SiloneIgnazio Silone was the pseudonym of Secondino Tranquilli, an Italian author and politician.-Early life and career:...
- 1991 Kunst-und Kultur-Preis der Stadt Landsberg am LechLandsberg am LechLandsberg am Lech is a town in southwest Bavaria, Germany, about 65 kilometers west of Munich and 35 kilometers south of Augsburg. It is the capital of the district of Landsberg am Lech....
Novels
- Hochebene, Kassel: Harriet Schleber 1948
- Die Stärkeren, Kassel 1948
- Mitte des Lebens, Frankfurt: S. Fischer 1950; Engl. Nina, 1956
- Daniela, Frankfurt 1953
- Der Sündenbock, Frankfurt 1955
- Abenteuer der Tugend, Frankfurt 1957
- Die vollkommene Freude, Frankfurt 1962
- Ich bin Tobias, Frankfurt 1966
- Der schwarze Esel, Frankfurt 1974
- Mirjam, Frankfurt 1983
- Silberschuld, Frankfurt 1987
- Abaelards Liebe, Frankfurt 1991; Engl. Abelard's Love, 1998
- Aeterna (mit H. C. Meiser), Frankfurt 2000
Short stories
- Die gläsernen Ringe, Berlin: Fischer, 1940; Engl. Rings of Glass, 1958
- Erste Liebe, München: Desch 1946
- Jan Lobel aus Warschau, Kassel 1948
- Ein Bündel weißer Narzissen, Frankfurt: S. Fischer 1956
- Geh fort, wenn du kannst (Nachwort: Hans Bender), Frankfurt 1959; Engl. Leave If You Can, 2010
- Weihnachts-Triptychon (Mit Scherenschnitten von Otto Diethelm), Zürich: Arche, 1963
- Septembertag, Frankfurt 1964
- Die rote Katze, Fünf Erzählungen, Frankfurt: Fischer Bibliothek 1981
- Geschichten aus der Löwengrube, Acht Erzählungen, Frankfurt 1986
Autobiographical Writings
- Gefängnistagebuch, München: Zinnen (Kurt Desch) 1946; Engl. A Woman's Prison Journal, 1988
- Baustelle. Eine Art Tagebuch 1967-1970, Frankfurt: S. Fischer 1970
- Grenzübergänge. Tagebuch-Notizen 1970-1972, Frankfurt 1972
- Kriegsspielzeug. Tagebuch 1972-1978, Frankfurt 1978
- Nordkoreanisches Reisetagebuch, Frankfurt 1981
- Den Wolf umarmen (Autobiographie, Teil 1), Frankfurt 1981
- Winterfrühling. Tagebuchaufzeichnungen 1979-1982, Frankfurt 1982
- Im Dunkeln singen. Tagebuchaufzeichnungen 1982-1985, Frankfurt 1985
- Wachsender Mond. Tagebuchaufzeichnungen 1985-1988, Frankfurt 1988
- Ort meiner Kindheit: Wessobrunn, Freiburg 1991
- Wir Heimatlosen. Tagebuchaufzeichnungen 1989-1992, Frankfurt 1992
- Saturn auf der Sonne (Autobiographie, Teil 2), Frankfurt 1994
- Kunst des Schattenspiels. Tagebuchaufzeichnungen 1994-1997, Frankfurt 1997
Writing for children and teens
- Das Ohlstadter Kinder-Weihnachtsspiel, München 1946
- Martins Reise, Zürich: Atlantis 1949
- Sie zogen mit dem Stern. Eine Bubenweihnacht, München: Don Bosco 1950
- Jugend unserer Zeit. Fotografien gedeutet von Luise Rinser, Würzburg: Echter-Verlag 1967
- Bruder Feuer, Stuttgart: Thienemann 1975
- Das Geheimnis des Brunnens, Stuttgart 1979
- Kursbuch für Mädchen, Frauenfeld 1979
- Mit wem reden, Stuttgart 1980
- Drei Kinder und ein Stern (ill. v. Hella Seith), (Neuausgabe) Stuttgart: Gabriel 1994
- Das Squirrel. Eine Geschichte von sichtbaren und unsichtbaren Wesen (mit Blumenbildern von Sulamith Wülfing), (Neuausgabe) Grafing: Aquamarin 2004
Special writings
- Pestalozzi und wir. Der Mensch und das Werk, Stuttgart: Günther 1947
- Die Wahrheit über Konnersreuth. Ein Bericht, Einsiedeln: Benziger 1954
- Fülle der Zeit. Carl Zuckmayer und sein Werk, Frankfurt 1956
- Der Schwerpunkt (Essays zu Annette KolbAnnette KolbAnnette Kolb was the working name of German author and pacifist Anna Mathilde Kolb. She became active in pacifist causes during World War I and this caused her political difficulties from then on. She left Germany in the 1920s and her works were banned during the Third Reich...
, Franz WerfelFranz WerfelFranz Werfel was an Austrian-Bohemian novelist, playwright, and poet.- Biography :Born in Prague , Werfel was the first of three children of a wealthy manufacturer of gloves and leather goods. His mother, Albine Kussi, was the daughter of a mill owner...
, Carl ZuckmayerCarl ZuckmayerCarl Zuckmayer was a German writer and playwright.-Biography:Born in Nackenheim in Rheinhessen, he was four years old when his family moved to Mainz. With the outbreak of World War I, he finished school with a facilitated "emergency"-Abitur and volunteered for military service...
, Elisabeth LanggässerElisabeth LanggässerElisabeth Langgässer was a German author and teacher. She is known for lyrical poetry and novels...
und Bert Brecht), Frankfurt 1960 - Vom Sinn der Traurigkeit (Felix Tristitia), Zürich: Arche 1962
- Ich weiß deinen Namen. 73 Fotographien gedeutet von Luise Rinser, Würzburg: Echter 1962
- Über die Hoffnung, Zürich 1964
- Gespräche über Lebensfragen, Würzburg 1966
- Hat Beten einen Sinn?, Zürich 1966
- Jugend unserer Zeit. Fotografien gedeutet von Luise Rinser, Würzburg 1967
- Gespräch von Mensch zu Mensch, Würzburg 1967
- Zölibat und Frau, Würzburg 1967
- Laie, nicht ferngesteuert, Zürich 1967
- Fragen, Antworten, Würzburg 1968
- Von der Unmöglichkeit und der Möglichkeit heute Priester zu sein, Zürich: NZN 1968
- Unterentwickeltes Land Frau. Untersuchungen, Kritik, Arbeitshypothesen, Würzburg 1970
- Hochzeit der Widersprüche, Percha: Schulz 1973
- Dem Tode geweiht? Lepra ist heilbar! (Mit 24 Bildtafeln; Fotos von Christoph Rinser), Percha 1974
- Wie wenn wir ärmer würden oder Die Heimkehr des verlorenen Sohnes, Percha 1974
- Hallo, Partner. Zeige mir, wie du dein Auto lenkst, und ich sage dir, wie (wer) du bist!, HUK-Verband 1974
- Leiden, Sterben, Auferstehen, Würzburg 1975
- Wenn die Wale kämpfen. Porträt eines Landes: Süd-Korea, Percha 1976
- Der verwundete Drache. Dialog über Leben und Werk des Komponisten Isang Yun, Frankfurt 1977
- Terroristen-Sympathisanten? Im Welt-Bild der Rechten. Eine Dokumentation, 1977
- Khomeini und der Islamische Gottesstaat. Eine große Idee. Ein großer Irrtum?, Percha 1979
- Kinder unseres Volkes (Buch zum Film). Deutschland, 1983. Regie: Stefan Rinser
- Wer wirft den Stein? Zigeuner sein in Deutschland. Eine Anklage, Stuttgart 1985
- Die Aufgabe der Musik in der Gesellschaft von heute, Frankfurt 1986
- In atomarer Bedrohung. Mit Grafiken von Frans Masereel, Karlsruhe: Loeper 1987
- Gratwanderung. Briefe der Freundschaft an Karl Rahner, München: Kösel 1994
- Mitgefühl als Weg zum Frieden. Meine Gespräche mit dem Dalai Lama, München 1995
- Leben im Augenblick. Kurze Texte zur Sinnfrage, hrsg. von Ute Zydek, München 1996
- Reinheit und Ekstase. Auf der Suche nach der vollkommenen Liebe (mit H. C. Meiser), München: List 1998
- Bruder Hund. Eine Legende, München: Kösel 19
Literature
- Gudrun Gill: Die Utopie Hoffnung bei Luise Rinser. Eine sozio-psychologische Studie. New York u.a.: Lang 1991. (= American university studies; Ser. 1; Germanic languages and literatures; 92), ISBN 0-8204-1366-6
- Stephanie Grollman: Das Bild des "Anderen" in den Tagebüchern und Reiseberichten Luise Rinsers. Würzburg: Königshausen u. Neumann 2000. (= Epistemata; Reihe Literaturwissenschaft; 322), ISBN 3-8260-1853-2
- Thomas Lother: Die Schuldproblematik in Luise Rinsers literarischem Werk. Frankfurt am Main u.a.: Lang 1991. (= Würzburger Hochschulschriften zur neueren deutschen Literaturgeschichte;13), ISBN 3-631-43866-4
- Selma Polat: Luise Rinsers Weg zur mystischen Religiosität. Glaube erwachsen aus Erfahrung. Mit einem Interview. Münster: Lit 2001. (= Literatur - Medien - Religion; 2), ISBN 3-8258-2536-1
- Luise Rinser, Materialien zu Leben und Werk, hrsg. v. Hans-Rüdiger Schwab. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer. 1986. (= Fischer-TB 5973), ISBN 3-596-25973-8
- Michael Kleeberg: Glaubensüberhitzung. Sie hat den Zweifel produktiv gemacht: Luise Rinser zum neunzigsten Geburtstag. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, 28.4.2001.