Claudio Magris
Encyclopedia
Claudio Magris is an Italian scholar, translator and writer.
Magris graduated from the University of Turin
, where he studied German studies
, and has been a professor of modern German literature at the University of Trieste
since 1978.
He is an essayist and columnist
for the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera
and for other European journals and newspapers.
His numerous studies have helped to promote an awareness in Italy of Central European culture and of the literature of the Habsburg
myth.
Magris is a member of several European academies and served as senator in the Italian Senate
from 1994 to 1996.
His first book on the Habsburg myth in modern Austrian literature rediscovered central European literature. His journalistic writings have been collected in Dietro le parole ("Behind Words", 1978) and Itaca e oltre ("Ithaca and Beyond", 1982). He has written essays on E.T.A. Hoffmann
, Henrik Ibsen
, Italo Svevo
, Robert Musil
, Hermann Hesse
and Jorge Luis Borges
. His novels and theatre productions, many translated into several languages, include
Illazioni su una sciabola (1984),Danubio (1986), Stadelmann (1988), Un altro mare (1991), and Microcosmi (1997).
His breakthrough was Danubio (1986), which is a magnum opus
. In this book (said by the author to be an "drowned novel"), Magris tracks the course of the Danube
from its sources to the sea. The whole trip evolves into a colorful, rich canvas of the multicultural European history.
Magris won the Bagutta Prize
in 1987 for Danubio and the Strega Prize
in 1997 for Microcosmi. He was also awarded the Erasmus Prize
in 2001 and a Prince of Asturias Award for Literature
in 2004. On July 31, 2006 he won the Austrian State Prize for European Literature
. On October 18, 2009 he received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
during the Frankfurt Book Fair
.
Magris graduated from the University of Turin
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
, where he studied German studies
German studies
German studies is the field of humanities that researches, documents, and disseminates German language and literature in both its historic and present forms. Academic departments of German studies often include classes on German culture, German history, and German politics in addition to the...
, and has been a professor of modern German literature at the University of Trieste
University of Trieste
The University of Trieste is a medium-sized university in Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. The university consists of 12 faculties, boasts a wide and almost complete range of university courses and currently has about 23,000 students enrolled and 1,000 professors...
since 1978.
He is an essayist and columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera
Corriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
and for other European journals and newspapers.
His numerous studies have helped to promote an awareness in Italy of Central European culture and of the literature of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
myth.
Magris is a member of several European academies and served as senator in the Italian Senate
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
from 1994 to 1996.
His first book on the Habsburg myth in modern Austrian literature rediscovered central European literature. His journalistic writings have been collected in Dietro le parole ("Behind Words", 1978) and Itaca e oltre ("Ithaca and Beyond", 1982). He has written essays on E.T.A. Hoffmann
E.T.A. Hoffmann
Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann , better known by his pen name E.T.A. Hoffmann , was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman and caricaturist...
, Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
, Italo Svevo
Italo Svevo
Aron Ettore Schmitz , better known by the pseudonym Italo Svevo, was an Italian writer and businessman, author of novels, plays, and short stories.- Biography :...
, Robert Musil
Robert Musil
Robert Musil was an Austrian writer. His unfinished long novel The Man Without Qualities is generally considered to be one of the most important modernist novels...
, Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature...
and Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo , known as Jorge Luis Borges , was an Argentine writer, essayist, poet and translator born in Buenos Aires. In 1914 his family moved to Switzerland where he attended school, receiving his baccalauréat from the Collège de Genève in 1918. The family...
. His novels and theatre productions, many translated into several languages, include
Illazioni su una sciabola (1984),Danubio (1986), Stadelmann (1988), Un altro mare (1991), and Microcosmi (1997).
His breakthrough was Danubio (1986), which is a magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
. In this book (said by the author to be an "drowned novel"), Magris tracks the course of the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
from its sources to the sea. The whole trip evolves into a colorful, rich canvas of the multicultural European history.
Magris won the Bagutta Prize
Bagutta Prize
The Bagutta Prize is an Italian literary prize.It originated in Milan's Bagutta Ristorante. The writer Riccardo Bacchelli discovered the restaurant and soon he had numerous friends who would dine together and discuss books. On 11 November 1927 they decided to create a literary prize and named it...
in 1987 for Danubio and the Strega Prize
Strega Prize
The Strega Prize is the most prestigious Italian literary award. It has been awarded annually since 1947 for the best work of prose fiction by an Italian author and first published between 1 May of the previous year and 30 April...
in 1997 for Microcosmi. He was also awarded the Erasmus Prize
Erasmus Prize
The Erasmus Prize is an annual prize awarded by the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation, a Dutch non-profit organization, to individuals or institutions that have made notable contributions to European culture, society, or social science. The Praemium Erasmianum Foundation was founded on 23 June 1958 by...
in 2001 and a Prince of Asturias Award for Literature
Prince of Asturias Awards
The Prince of Asturias Awards are a series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Prince of Asturias Foundation to individuals, entities or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs....
in 2004. On July 31, 2006 he won the Austrian State Prize for European Literature
Austrian State Prize for European Literature
The Austrian State Prize for European Literature , also known as the European Literary Award , is a literary prize in Austria awarded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Art to European writers...
. On October 18, 2009 he received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade is an international peace prize given yearly at the Frankfurt Book Fair in the Paulskirche in Frankfurt am Main, Germany...
during the Frankfurt Book Fair
Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented. As to the number of visitors, the Turin Book Fair attracts about as many visitors, viz. some 300,000....
.
Works
- Illazioni su una sciabola (1984; translated as Inferences from a Sabre, ISBN 0-7486-6036-4),
- Danubio (1986; translated as Danube: A Sentimental Journey from the Source to the Black Sea, ISBN 0-00-272074-4),
- Stadelmann (1988),
- Un altro mare (1991; translated as A Different Sea, ISBN 0-00-271339-X)
- Microcosmi (1997; translated as Microcosms, ISBN 1-86046-618-4).
- Alla cieca (2006; translated as Blindly, ISBN 978-0-670-06856-2).