Lauter schwierige Patienten 09 - Reich-Ranicki über die Gruppe 47

Introduction

Marcel Reich-Ranicki introduces the topic of the episode, which is Hans Werner Richter and the Gruppe 47.

Hans Werner Richter's Importance

• Hans Werner Richter was not a good writer but became famous for his contributions to literature in other ways.

• He founded and led the Gruppe 47, which gave new impulses to German literature after World War II.

The Importance of Initiative

Hans Werner Richter talks about how important initiative was for him.

The Significance of Initiative

• Initiative was crucial for him to give new impulses to German literature after World War II.

• He had some success with this initiative, although he remains modest about it.

Success and Impact on Literature

Marcel Reich-Ranicki asks about the lasting impact of Hans Werner Richter's work on literature.

Evaluating Success and Impact

• It is difficult to evaluate his success as a writer since he did not write much.

• However, his contributions through founding and leading the Gruppe 47 were significant for German literature.

• His impact on literature continues to be relevant today.

Early Life and Career

Marcel Reich-Ranicki discusses Hans Werner Richter's early life and career.

Background Information

• Hans Werner Richter came from an impoverished fishing family in Bansin on the Baltic Sea.

• He worked as a bookseller in Berlin before joining the Communist Party of Germany (KPD).

• He was expelled from KPD due to Trotskyist tendencies and fled to Paris out of fear of Gestapo persecution.

Return from Exile

Marcel Reich-Ranicki discusses Hans Werner Richter's return from exile.

Return to Germany

• Hans Werner Richter returned to Germany in 1933 due to poor living conditions in Paris.

• He was interrogated by the Gestapo but managed to avoid persecution.

• He served as a soldier during World War II and was captured by American forces.

Lagerzeitung

Marcel Reich-Ranicki talks about Hans Werner Richter's time as a prisoner of war.

Writing in Captivity

• While in captivity, Hans Werner Richter organized and wrote for a camp newspaper called "Sirup."

• Although writing was not his strong suit, he collaborated with other writers such as Alfred Andersch.

Post-War Career

Marcel Reich-Ranicki discusses Hans Werner Richter's post-war career.

Founding New Publications

• After returning from captivity, Hans Werner Richter founded several new publications, including "Der Skorpion" and "Akzente."

• These publications were banned due to their anti-Soviet sentiments.

Gruppe 47

Marcel Reich-Ranicki talks about the founding of the Gruppe 47.

The Birth of Gruppe 47

• In 1947, Hans Werner Richter brought together a group of writers who had contributed to his publications.

• This group became known as the Gruppe 47 and played an important role in shaping German literature after World War II.

The Origins of Gruppe 47

In this section, the speaker discusses how Gruppe 47 was formed and how it evolved over time.

Formation of Gruppe 47

• The group was formed by a judge who invited people who wanted to write but had no opportunity to do so.

• At first, the criticism was harsh, but it soon changed as more people joined the group.

• Many members were young university graduates who were unknown at the time.

Evolution of Gruppe 47

• The group became known after being invited to a conference for newspaper writers.

• Various authors began to join and read their works at meetings.

• The name "Gruppe 47" is incorrect; it should have been called "Forum 45" or something similar.

• There was a core group of members, but many others came and went over time.

• New members were recommended by existing members or acquaintances in the literary world.

How Pi Cham Joined Gruppe 47

In this section, the speaker talks about how Pi Cham became involved with Gruppe 47.

Pi Cham's Introduction to Gruppe 47

• Pi Cham met the judge through his work in radio and was invited to join the group.

• Members such as Günter Grass and Ingeborg Bachmann also recommended new writers for membership in the group.

The Importance of the Gruppe 47 Prize

In this section, the speaker discusses the significance of the Gruppe 47 prize.

The Gruppe 47 Prize

• The idea for the prize was significant, and it helped to mobilize funds for the group.

• The speaker does not provide any further details on this topic.

The Group and the Prize

In this section, the speaker talks about a group of writers who were awarded a prize. He describes how the group was formed and how the prize affected their careers.

Formation of the Group

• The group had no members initially.

• All present individuals were included in the group.

• The wives of some members were also included.

• The alliance provided funding for the group.

Awarding of the Prize

• Winning the prize was an enormous opportunity for unknown authors to gain recognition.

• Publishers rushed to offer deals to winners after they received publicity from winning.

• Enzensberger did not receive a prize and was upset by it.

• Richter, who was in charge of selecting winners, determined which authors would read and for how long.

Authors at Readings

In this section, the speaker discusses readings by various authors at events. He describes how these readings were organized and what they entailed.

Author Selection

• Richter selected which authors would read at events.

• Some well-known authors like Heinrich Böll and Günter Grass participated in readings.

• Newer authors like Siegfried Lenz also participated.

Reading Organization

• Richter determined each author's reading order and length of time on stage.

• Each reading typically consisted of 22 to 32 pieces being read aloud by different authors.

• Criticizers sat in front during readings.

Becoming Part of the Group

In this section, the speaker talks about his own experience becoming part of a literary group. He explains how he became involved with other writers through interviews and recommendations.

Initial Contact with Other Writers

• The speaker was previously unknown in Germany but had written critiques on German literature while in Poland.

• He was interviewed by a journalist in Hamburg who recommended him to other writers.

• Siegfried Lenz also recommended the speaker to others.

Joining the Group

• The speaker was invited to attend a meeting with Richter and other writers.

• After attending, he was encouraged to participate in future events.

Schriftsteller Tagungen

In this section, the speaker talks about a writer's conference where authors would read their work and receive feedback from critics. The order in which authors read was important, and established writers were given more time to read than newcomers.

Importance of Order

• The order in which authors read was important.

• Newcomers were given less time to read than established writers.

• Judges would give signals to indicate when an author should stop reading.

• Criticism was immediate and could last up to an hour for exceptional works.

Setting and Environment

• The setting for these conferences was usually a rural inn or guesthouse.

• Chairs were hard and uncomfortable, making note-taking difficult.

• Critics were required to take notes on every author's work, while other attendees did not have to.

Comparison with Other Conferences

• The speaker compares this conference with another one he helped found called the Bachmann Prize in Klagenfurt.

• At the Bachmann Prize, judges could follow along with the text as it was being read aloud.

• This made note-taking easier but also created discomfort for some judges who felt they had to keep up with the pace of the reading.

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Richter and the Group 47

This section discusses the political stance of Richter and the Group 47, as well as their literary engagement. It also mentions a prize that was never awarded by the group.

Political Stance and Literary Engagement

• Richter had a political stance due to his experience during World War II.

• The Group 47 was politically engaged in their literature, but they never awarded a political prize.

• The group did not make resolutions or take part in revolutions, but they did propose resolutions occasionally.

• During the student revolt, the group was seen as too moderate.

Literary Recognition

• Richter wrote several novels, including "Die Geschlagenen" and "Auf Gottes Hand."

• Thomas Mann recommended one of Richter's novels for an award despite only reading 30 pages of it.

• Richter was not recognized as a writer by some authors despite being an influential organizer of the Group 47.

Personalities in the Group 47

This section talks about personalities within the Group 47 and how they interacted with each other.

Personalities

• Fröhlich was described as a kind older man who had authority due to his age.

• Some authors were critical of each other's work, but this criticism depended on what each author thought of another's latest book.

• There were disagreements among authors about who should be included in the group. Some wanted certain authors removed while others wanted them to stay.

Richter's Influence on the Group 47

This section discusses Richter's influence on the Group 47 and whether or not literature would have developed differently without him.

Influence

• Richter's organizational and improvisational skills were important for the group.

• The authors who became famous later, such as Heinrich Böll, Martin Walser, Ingeborg Bachmann, Günter Eich, Ilse Aichinger, and Enzensberger would have still become famous even if Richter had not been part of the group.

Marcel Reich-Ranicki and the Literary Quartet

In this section, the speaker talks about a literary show called "The Literary Quartet" and its host, Marcel Reich-Ranicki.

The Literary Quartet

• The speaker mentions that "The Literary Quartet" was a show with Marcel Reich-Ranicki as its host.

• The show was known for its discussions on literature and book reviews.

Marcel Reich-Ranicki

• The speaker describes Marcel Reich-Ranicki as the host of "The Literary Quartet".

• He is referred to as a literary critic and journalist.

• Reich-Ranicki is known for his contributions to German literature.