Karl Schönherr

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 practicing 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.

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), film: 1947
• Der Weibsteufel ("The She Devil", 1914), used as a script for several movies (1924, 1951, 1966)
• Frau Suitner (Mrs. Suitner, 1922)
• Es ("It", 1923)
• Die Hungerblockade (1925)
• Volk in Not ("People in distress", 1926)
• Glaube und Heimat ("Belief and home", 1926)
• Der Armendoktor (1927)
• Herr Doktor, haben Sie zu essen? (1930)
• Die Fahne weht (1937)