Karl Schönherr (24 February 1867 - 15 March 1943) was an
Austrian writer of Austrian
Heimat themes.
Biography
Schönherr was born in
Axams, near
Innsbruck (
Austria), to Joseph and Marie Suitner Schönherr. He began studying
philosophy in Innsbruck, then switched to
medicine in
Vienna, becoming a doctor in 1896. He worked in a hospital in
St. Pölten before opening his own practice in Vienna. He gave up practising after the success of Der Bildschnitzer.
He experienced the poor living conditions of the people around him, especially during
World War I, and wrote about these topics. Schönherr's works include protests against the
Catholic church. He was also in favor of the
Anschluss, but apparently did not share
antisemitic tendencies. His wife Malvine (1867-1956) was Jewish.
Death
Schönherr died in Vienna. He is buried on the
Zentralfriedhof (Group 14 C, #11).
Works
Der Judas von Tirol ("Judas of Tirol", 1897)
Der Bildschnitzer: Eine Tragödie braver Leute ("The Woodcarver: A Tragedy of Good People", 1900)
Die Altweibermühle: Ein deutsches Fastnachtspiel ("The Old Woman's Mill: A German Carnival Play", 1902)
Der Sonnwendtag ("Solstice Day")
Karrnerleut ("The Carters", 1904); later Kindertragödie ("Children's Tragedy", 1919)
Familie ("Family", 1905)
Erde ("Earth", 1908)
Glaube und Heimat ("Belief and home", 1910)
Der Weibsteufel ("The She Devil", 1914)
Frau Suitner (Mrs. Suitner, 1922)
Es ("It", 1923)
Die Hungerblockade (1925)
Volk in Not ("People in distress", 1926)
Der Armendoktor (1927)
Herr Doktor, haben Sie zu essen? (1930)
Die Fahne weht (1937)
Film adaptations
Erde, directed by
Emmerich Hanus (Austria, 1920, based on the play Erde)