Botho Strauß (; born 2 December 1944) is a German

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

and

essayist An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal a ...

Biography

Botho Strauß's father was a chemist. After finishing his secondary education, Strauß studied German, History of the Theatre and Sociology in Cologne and Munich, but never finished his dissertation on ''

Thomas Mann Paul Thomas Mann ( , ; ; 6 June 1875 – 12 August 1955) was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. His highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novella ...

und das Theater''. During his studies, he worked as an extra at the

Munich Kammerspiele The Munich Kammerspiele (German: Münchner Kammerspiele) is a state-funded German-language theater company based at the ''Schauspielhaus'' on Maximilianstrasse in the Bavarian capital. The company currently has three venues: the main stage of ...

. From 1967 to 1970, he was a critic and editorial journalist for the journal ''

Theater heute ''Theater heute'' (German: ''Theatre Today'') is a German language monthly magazine with a special focus on theatre. The magazine is based in Berlin, Germany, and has been in circulation since 1960. History and profile ''Theater heute'' was foun ...

'' (''Theater Today''). Between 1970 and 1975, he worked as a dramaturgical assistant to Peter Stein at the West Berlin Schaubühne am Halleschen Ufer. After his first attempt as a writer, a Gorky adaptation for the screen, he decided to live and work as a writer. Strauß had his first breakthrough as a dramatist with the 1977 ''Trilogie des Wiedersehens'', five years after the publication of his first work. In 1984 he published his important work '' Der Junge Mann'' (''The Young Man'', translated by Roslyn Theobald in 1995). With a 1993 ''

Der Spiegel ''Der Spiegel'' (, lit. ''"The Mirror"'') is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. With a weekly circulation of 695,100 copies, it was the largest such publication in Europe in 2011. It was founded in 1947 by John Seymour Chaloner ...

'' essay, "Anschwellender Bocksgesang" ("Swelling He-Goat Song""He-goat song" is the translation of the Greek " τραγῳδία" ("

tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...

")), a critical examination of modern civilisation, he triggered a major political controversy as his conservative politics was anathema to many. In his theoretical work, Strauß showed the influence of the ancient classics,

Nietzsche Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (; or ; 15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher, Prose poetry, prose poet, cultural critic, Philology, philologist, and composer whose work has exerted a profound influence on contemporary philo ...

Heidegger Martin Heidegger (; ; 26 September 188926 May 1976) was a German philosopher who is best known for contributions to phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism. He is among the most important and influential philosophers of the 20th centur ...

as well as

Adorno Theodor W. Adorno ( , ; born Theodor Ludwig Wiesengrund; 11 September 1903 – 6 August 1969) was a German philosopher, sociologist, psychologist, musicologist, and composer. He was a leading member of the Frankfurt School of critica ...

, but his outlook was also radically anti-

bourgeois The bourgeoisie ( , ) is a social class, equivalent to the middle or upper middle class. They are distinguished from, and traditionally contrasted with, the proletariat by their affluence, and their great cultural and financial capital. They ...

. His work as a writer has been recognized with numerous international awards and his dramas are among the most performed in German-language theatres. Strauß presently lives in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

as well as in the nearby

Uckermark The Uckermark () is a historical region in northeastern Germany, straddles the Uckermark (district), Uckermark District of Brandenburg and the Vorpommern-Greifswald District of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Its traditional capital is Prenzlau. Geogra ...

region. In 2017, he switched from his long-time publisher

Carl Hanser Verlag The Carl Hanser Verlag was founded in 1928 by Carl Hanser in Munich and is one of the few medium-sized publishing companies in the German-speaking area still owned by the founding family. History From the very beginning, the publishing house h ...

Rowohlt Verlag Rowohlt Verlag is a German publishing house based in Hamburg, with offices in Reinbek and Berlin. It has been part of the Georg von Holtzbrinck Group since 1982. The company was created in 1908 in Leipzig by Ernst Rowohlt. Divisions * Kinder * ...

Works

*''Marlenes Schwester'', two novellas (1975) *''Schützenehre'', novella (1975) *''Trilogie des Wiedersehens'', play (1976) *'' Die Widmung'', novella (1977) *'' Groß und klein'', scenes (1978) *''Die Hypochonder''; ''Bekannte Gesichter, gemischte Gefühle'', two plays (1979) *''Rumor'' (1980) *'' Paare, Passanten'' 2nd ed. (1981) *''

Kalldewey, Farce ''Kalldewey, Farce'' is a 1981 play by the German writer Botho Strauß. It follows a couple, Lynn and Hans, who are mysteriously unable to break up, are visited by an unknown man called Kalldewey, and go through a peculiar form of therapy. The pl ...

'' (1981) *'' Der Park'', play (1983) loosely based on

Shakespeare's William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

'' *''Tumult'' translated by

Michael Hulse Michael Hulse (born 1955) is an English poet, translator and critic, notable especially for his translations of German novels by W. G. Sebald, Herta Müller, and Elfriede Jelinek. Life and works Hulse was educated locally in Stoke-on-Trent unt ...

(1984) *'' Der junge Mann'' (1984) *''Diese Erinnerung an einen, der nur einen Tag zu Gast war'', poem (1985) *''Die Fremdenführerin'', play in two acts (1986) (pbk.) *''Niemand anderes'' 2nd ed. (1987) *''Versuch, ästhetische und politische Ereignisse zusammenzudenken'', texts on theatre 1967–1986 (1987) *''Besucher'', three plays (1988) *''Fragmente der Undeutlichkeit'' (1989) *''Kongress: die Kette der Demütigungen'' (1989) *''Angelas Kleider: Nachtstück in zwei Teilen'' (1991) *''Schlusschor'', three acts (1991) *''Beginnlosigkeit: Reflexionen über Fleck und Linie'' (1992) *''Das Gleichgewicht'' play in three acts (1993) *'' Wohnen, dämmern, lügen'' (1994) *'' Ithaka'', play after the homecoming

canto The canto () is a principal form of division in medieval and modern long poetry. Etymology and equivalent terms The word ''canto'' is derived from the Italian word for "song" or "singing", which comes from the Latin ''cantus'', "song", from the ...

s of the ''

Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major Ancient Greek literature, ancient Greek Epic poetry, epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by moder ...

'' (1996) *''Die Fehler des Kopisten'' (1997) *''Die Ähnlichen: moral Interludes''; ''Der Kuss des Vergessens: Vivarium rot'', two plays (1998) *''Jeffers – Akt I und II'' (1998) *''Der Gebärdensammler'', texts on theatre, edited by Thomas Oberender (1999) *''Gedankenfluchten'' (1999) *''Das Partikular'' (2000) *''Der Narr und seine Frau heute abend in Pancomedia'' (2001) *''Unerwartete Rückkehr'' (2002) *''Die Nacht mit Alice, als Julia ums Haus schlich'' (2003) *''Der Untenstehende auf Zehenspitzen'' (2004) *''Die eine und die andere'', play in two acts (2005) (pbk.) *''Schändung'' after Shakespeare's ''

Titus Andronicus ''Titus Andronicus'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593, probably in collaboration with George Peele. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first tragedy and is often seen ...

'' (2005) (pbk.) *''Mikado'' (2006) *Botho Strauß /

Neo Rauch Neo Rauch (born 18 April 1960, in Leipzig, East Germany; ) is a German artist whose paintings mine the intersection of his personal history with the politics of industrial alienation. His work reflects the influence of socialist realism, and owes ...

: ''Der Mittler'', Münster 2006, * ''Leichtes Spiel'' (2009) * ''Das blinde Geschehen'' (2011) * ''Die Unbeholfenen. Bewußtseinsnovelle'' (2007) * ''Vom Aufenthalt'' (2009) * ''Sie/Er'' (2012) * ''Die Fabeln von der Begegnung'' (2013) * ''Lichter des Toren. Der Idiot und seine Zeit'' (2013) * ''Der zurück in sein Haus gestopfte Jäger'' (2014) * ''Herkunft'' (2014) * ''Allein mit allen. Gedankenbuch'' (2014) * '' Oniritti Höhlenbilder'' (2016) * ''Der Fortführer'' (2018)

English translations

*''Drama Contemporary. Germany: plays'' by Botho Strauss et al.; edited by Carl Weber. (1996) (alk. paper) (pbk., alk. paper) *''West Coast Plays 8'': Edited by Rick Foster (1981) Mathuen Drama, 1981. *''

Big and Little ''Big and Little'' () is a 1978 play by the German writer Botho Strauß. It has the subtitle ''Scenes'' (''Szenen'') and has also been played in English as ''Big and Small''. It follows a woman, Lotte, who travels through Germany and seeks human c ...

'', scenes, translated by Anne Cattaneo (1979) *''Big and Small'', translated by

Martin Crimp Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Aust ...

(2011)
A

Sydney Theatre Company Sydney Theatre Company (STC) is an Australian theatre company based in Sydney, New South Wales. The company performs in The Wharf Theatre at Dawes Point in The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Roslyn Packer Theatre (formerly Sydney Thea ...

production, co-commissioned by the

Barbican Centre The Barbican Centre is a performing arts centre in the Barbican Estate of the City of London and the largest of its kind in Europe. The centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhi ...

, London 2012 Festival,

Théâtre de la Ville (meaning the City Theatre) is one of the two theatres built in the 19th century by Baron Haussmann at Place du Châtelet, Paris, the other being the Théâtre du Châtelet. It is located at 2, place du Châtelet in the 4th arrondissement. Inc ...

, Paris,

Vienna Festival __NOTOC__ The Wiener Festwochen (Vienna Festival) is a cultural festival in Vienna that takes place every year for five or six weeks in May and June. The Wiener Festwochen was established in 1951, when Vienna was still occupied by the four Allie ...

and

Ruhrfestspiele Ruhrfestspiele (Ruhr Festival) in Recklinghausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is one of the oldest theatre festivals in Europe. Founded after World War II, the festival is a major annual cultural event for the Ruhr area. It always starts on 1 ...

Recklinghausen Recklinghausen (; Westphalian: ''Riäkelhusen'') is the northernmost city in the Ruhr-Area and the capital of the Recklinghausen district. It borders the rural Münsterland and is characterized by large fields and farms in the north and indus ...

;

Cate Blanchett Catherine Elise Blanchett (; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor. Regarded as one of the finest performers of her generation, she is known for her versatile work across independent films, blockbusters, and the stage. She has received nu ...

as Lotte. *''

Couples, Passersby ''Couples, Passersby'' () is a 1981 short story collection by the German writer Botho Strauß. It consists of narrative vignettes and aphoristic sequences divided into six sections: "Couples", "Traffic Flow", "Scribbles", "Dimmer", "By Ourselves" ...

'' translated by Roslyn Theobald (1996) (alk. paper) *''

Devotion Devotion or Devotions may refer to: Religion * Faith, confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept * Anglican devotions, private prayers and practices used by Anglican Christians * Buddhist devotion, commitment to religious observance * Cat ...

'' translated by Sophie Wilkins (1995) (pbk., alk. paper) *'' Living, Glimmering, Lying'' translated by Roslyn Theobald (1999) (alk. paper) *'' The Park'' translated by Tinch Minter and Anthony Vivis, Sheffield Academic Press (1988) *'' The Young Man'' translated by Roslyn Theobald (1995) (alk. paper) *''Three Plays (The Park,

Seven Doors ''Seven Doors'' () is a 1988 play by the German writer Botho Strauß. It consists of eleven darkly comedic sketches on the subject of social decline. The play premiered on 20 November 1988 at the Stockholm City Theatre. Reception Michael Billi ...

, Time and the Room)'' translated by

Jeremy Sams Jeremy Sams (born 12 January 1957) is a British theatre director, writer, translator, orchestrator, musical director, film composer, and lyricist. Early life and education Sams is the son of the late Shakespearean scholar and musicologist Eri ...

, Oberon, 2006

Prizes and awards

*1974: Hannoverscher Dramatikerpreis *1977: Förderpreis of the Schiller Memorial Prize *1981:

Großer Literaturpreis der Bayerischen Akademie der Schönen Künste Großer Literaturpreis der Bayerischen Akademie der Schönen Künste (in English: Literature Award of the Bavarian Academy of the Fine Arts) was a Bavarian literary prize by the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste. In 2010, it merged with the ...

*1982:

Mülheimer Dramatikerpreis Mülheimer Dramatikerpreis ("dramatist award of Mülheim"), founded in 1976, is one of the leading theater awards in Germany. It is awarded by an open jury of theater professionals, critics and playwrights who watch a short list of productions dur ...

*1987: Jean Paul Prize *1989:

Georg Büchner Prize The Georg Büchner Prize (german: link=no, Georg-Büchner-Preis) is the most important literary prize for German language literature, along with the Goethe Prize. The award is named after dramatist and writer Georg Büchner, author of ''Woyzeck'' ...

*1993: Berlin Theatre Prize *2001: *2007:

Schiller Memorial Prize The Schiller Memorial Prize (german: Schiller-Gedächtnispreis) is a literature prize of the State of Baden-Württemberg. It is endowed with 25,000 euros and has been awarded since 1955 on Friedrich Schiller's birthday, 10 November. The award was ...

Notes and references

;Notes ;References

External links

Botho Strauß: New German dramatic art.

Goethe-Institut The Goethe-Institut (, GI, en, Goethe Institute) is a non-profit German cultural association operational worldwide with 159 institutes, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and ...

s Website
"Books in Brief: Fiction" on ''Couples, Passersby''
by Erik Burns, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' (29 December 1996) {{DEFAULTSORT:Strauss, Botho 1944 births 20th-century German dramatists and playwrights 20th-century German male writers 20th-century German novelists 20th-century essayists 21st-century German dramatists and playwrights 21st-century German male writers 21st-century German novelists 21st-century essayists Georg Büchner Prize winners German essayists German male dramatists and playwrights German male novelists German male short story writers German short story writers German-language writers Living people People from Naumburg (Saale) Schiller Memorial Prize winners