Maximilian Kronberger, known familiarly as Maximin (April 15, 1888 – April 16, 1904), was a German poet and a significant figure in the literary circle of

Stefan George Stefan Anton George (; 12 July 18684 December 1933) was a German symbolist poet and a translator of Dante Alighieri, William Shakespeare, Hesiod, and Charles Baudelaire. He is also known for his role as leader of the highly influential literary ...

(the so‑called ''George‑Kreis''). Maximin came to the attention of Stefan George in Munich in 1903 (according to some sources, in March 1902; others cite 1901 as the date of their original meeting); he died unexpectedly of meningitis the following year, on the day after his 16th birthday. He was "idealized y Georgeto the point of proclaiming him a god, following his death... the cult of 'Maximin' became an integral part of the George circle's practice..."David Fernbach, 'Prophet-pariah', ''New Left Review'', vol. 18 (November–December 2002). The ''Maximin-Erlebnis'' certainly provided George with inspiration for his work in subsequent years. Thirty-three of Kronberger's poems are included in the posthumously published collective volume, ''Maximin: Ein Gedenkbuch'' (now a rare book).

, comp., ''Maximin: Ein Gedenkbuch'', with illustrations (''Ausschmueckung'') by Melchior Lechter (Berlin, Blätter für die Kunst, 1907); includes a portrait photograph of Maximin taken by Stefan George; limited edition of 200 numbered copies (to be consulted at Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library in New Haven, Connecticut).

Primary references

*Maximilian Kronberger, ''Gedichte, Tagebücher, Briefe'', ed. Georg Peter Landmann, Stefan-George-Stiftung (Stuttgart, Klett‑Cotta, 1987). *Maximilian Kronberger, ''Maximilian Kronberger: Nachlass'' (Zurich, Bürdeke, 1937).

Subsidiary references

*Claus-Artur Scheier, 'Maximins Lichtung: Philosophische Bemerkungen zu Georges Gott', ''George‑Jahrbuch'' (Tübingen), No. 1 (1996/1997), pp. 80–106. *Andreas Martin Mauz, 'Gedicht und Gebet: Aspekte einer Familienähnlichkeit', unpublished M.A. dissertation,

University of Basle The University of Basel (Latin: ''Universitas Basiliensis'', German: ''Universität Basel'') is a university in Basel, Switzerland. Founded on 4 April 1460, it is Switzerland's oldest university and among the world's oldest surviving universitie ...

, 2001. *Robert E. Norton, ''Secret Germany: Stefan George and his Circle'' (Ithaca, New York, Cornell University Press, 2002).

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kronberger 1888 births 1904 deaths Deaths from meningitis Neurological disease deaths in Germany Infectious disease deaths in Germany German male poets 20th-century German poets 19th-century poets 19th-century German writers 19th-century German male writers 20th-century German male writers German children

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