Michael Maar
Encyclopedia
Michael Maar is a German literary scholar and author.
For his 1995 doctoral dissertation on Thomas Mann
, titled Geister und Kunst, he was awarded the Johann Heinrich Merck
Prize by the Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung
. He was himself elected a member of the academy in 2002. He was a Fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin from 1997 to 1998, and Visiting Professor at Stanford University
in 2002. From 2005 to 2006 he was a Fellow of the Carl Friedrich von Siemens Stiftung. In 2008, he became a member of the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste
.
His 2005 book The Two Lolitas, as well as two articles in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
and The Times Literary Supplement
the previous year, argued that Vladimir Nabokov
's 1955 novel Lolita
was most likely based on an until-then little known 1916 short story by German author Heinz von Lichberg
, also titled Lolita and featuring an identical theme. The discovery received strong attention by literary critics and the world press. Maar did not himself accuse Nabokov of plagiarism
, but suggested it was a case of cryptomnesia
, arguing that Nabokov and Lichberg lived in the same part of Berlin for several years in the 1920s and 1930s and that Lichberg's 1916 book (a collection of short stories) was easily available at the time.
His father is the author Paul Maar
.
For his 1995 doctoral dissertation on Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate, known for his series of highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novellas, noted for their insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual...
, titled Geister und Kunst, he was awarded the Johann Heinrich Merck
Johann Heinrich Merck
Johann Heinrich Merck , German author and critic, was born at Darmstadt, a few days after the death of his father, a chemist....
Prize by the Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung
Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung
The Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung was founded on August 28, 1949—the 200th birthday of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe—in Paulskirche in Frankfurt...
. He was himself elected a member of the academy in 2002. He was a Fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin from 1997 to 1998, and Visiting Professor at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 2002. From 2005 to 2006 he was a Fellow of the Carl Friedrich von Siemens Stiftung. In 2008, he became a member of the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste
Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste
Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste in München is an association of renowned personalities in Munich, Bavaria. It was founded by the Free State of Bavaria in 1948, continuinf a tradition established in 1808 by the Royal Academy of Arts in Munich.The academy organizes panel discussions,...
.
His 2005 book The Two Lolitas, as well as two articles in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , short F.A.Z., also known as the FAZ, is a national German newspaper, founded in 1949. It is published daily in Frankfurt am Main. The Sunday edition is the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung .F.A.Z...
and The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement is a weekly literary review published in London by News International, a subsidiary of News Corporation.-History:...
the previous year, argued that Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a multilingual Russian novelist and short story writer. Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian, then rose to international prominence as a master English prose stylist...
's 1955 novel Lolita
Lolita
Lolita is a novel by Vladimir Nabokov, first written in English and published in 1955 in Paris and 1958 in New York, and later translated by the author into Russian...
was most likely based on an until-then little known 1916 short story by German author Heinz von Lichberg
Heinz von Lichberg
Heinz von Lichberg, real name Heinz von Eschwege was a German author and journalist, remembered chiefly for his 1916 short story titled Lolita, upon which is has been argued that Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel of the same name likely was based...
, also titled Lolita and featuring an identical theme. The discovery received strong attention by literary critics and the world press. Maar did not himself accuse Nabokov of plagiarism
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work, but the notion remains problematic with nebulous...
, but suggested it was a case of cryptomnesia
Cryptomnesia
Cryptomnesia occurs when a forgotten memory returns without it being recognised as such by the subject, who believes it is something new and original...
, arguing that Nabokov and Lichberg lived in the same part of Berlin for several years in the 1920s and 1930s and that Lichberg's 1916 book (a collection of short stories) was easily available at the time.
His father is the author Paul Maar
Paul Maar
Paul Maar is one of the most important modern German writers for children and young people. He is a novelist, playwright, translator and illustrator.-Life:...
.
English
- Bluebeard’s chamber; guilt and confession in Thomas Mann, translated by David Fernbach, London; New York, Verso, 2003. ISBN 1859845290
- The Two Lolitas, translated by Perry Anderson, London, Verso, 2005. ISBN 1844670384
German
- Bild und Text: literarische Texte im Unterricht. Goethe-Institut, München, Ref. 42, Arbeitsstelle für Wiss. Didaktik. Hrsg. von Michael Maar u. Paul MaarPaul MaarPaul Maar is one of the most important modern German writers for children and young people. He is a novelist, playwright, translator and illustrator.-Life:...
. Lernhinweise von Jutta Weisz. 1988 - Geister und Kunst. Neuigkeiten aus dem ZauberbergZauberbergZauberberg may refer to:* Der Zauberberg , novel by Thomas Mann* Zauberberg , by Gas* Zauberberg , Austria...
. 1995 - Die Feuer- und die Wasserprobe. Essays zur Literatur. 1997
- Die falsche Madeleine. Essays. 1999
- Marcel Proust. Zwischen Belle Époque und Moderne (Herausgeber und Kommentar) 1999
- Das Blaubart-Zimmer. Thomas MannThomas MannThomas Mann was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate, known for his series of highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novellas, noted for their insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual...
und die Schuld. 2000 (Üb. ins Englische: Bluebeard’s Chamber. Guilt and Confession in Thomas Mann, London 2003) - Warum NabokovVladimir NabokovVladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a multilingual Russian novelist and short story writer. Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian, then rose to international prominence as a master English prose stylist...
Harry Potter gemocht hätte. 2002, ISBN 3-8270-0454-3 - Die Glühbirne der Etrusker. Essays und Marginalien. 2003
- Lolita und der deutsche Leutnant. Essay. 2005
- Leoparden im Tempel. Zu Andersen, Borges, Canetti, Chesterton, Kafka, Lampedusa, Mann, Musil, Nabokov, Powell, Proust, Woolf. 2007
- Solus Rex. Die schöne böse Welt des Vladimir NabokovVladimir NabokovVladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a multilingual Russian novelist and short story writer. Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian, then rose to international prominence as a master English prose stylist...
. 2007 - Hilfe für die Hufflepuffs. Kleines Handbuch zu Harry PotterHarry PotterHarry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
. 2008, ISBN 978-3-446-23020-0 - Proust Pharao. 2009, ISBN 978-3-937834-34-4
Awards
- Johann-Heinrich-Merck-PreisJohann-Heinrich-Merck-PreisJohann-Heinrich-Merck-Preis is a literary prize of Hesse.- Winners:*1964 Günter Blöcker*1965 Keine Verleihung*1966 Karl Heinz Ruppel*1967 Werner Weber*1968 Georg Hensel*1969 Erich Heller*1970 Joachim Kaiser*1971 Peter Huchel*1972 Horst Krüger...
(1995) - Ernst-Robert-Curtius-PreisErnst-Robert-Curtius-PreisErnst-Robert-Curtius-Preis is a literary prize of Germany....
(1995) - Essay-Stipendium der Stiftung Niedersachsen (1998)
- Lessing-Preis für Kritik (2000)
- Essay-Stipendium Baden-Württemberg (2001)