The publication of a collection of poetry in 1953 marked the beginning of a prolific literary career for Peter Härtling, a versatile figure who navigated roles as a journalist, editor, and playwright. His output spanned decades, shaped by the historical displacement of his youth and a dedicated commitment to both historical prose and socially conscious children's literature.
Early Life and Displacement
Born in 1933 in Chemnitz, Härtling spent his early childhood in Hartmannsdorf before moving to Olomouc. As the war progressed, his family fled to Zwettl, Austria, to escape the Red Army. His father was subsequently captured and died in a prisoner-of-war camp in Dollersheim in June 1945. Following this period, Härtling settled in Nürtingen, Baden-Württemberg. The loss continued when his mother committed suicide in October 1946. He received early training at the Bernsteinschule art school under HAP Grieshaber.
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Härtling transitioned into the publishing world, serving as the managing director of S. Fischer Verlag in Frankfurt from 1967 to 1973. Following his departure, he pursued writing full-time. His work frequently revisited personal and national history. His autobiographical novel Zwettl (1973) examined his time in Lower Austria, while Nachgetragene Liebe (1980) explored memories of his father. He also produced fictionalised biographical accounts of figures including Friedrich Hölderlin, E.T.A. Hoffmann, Franz Schubert, and Robert Schumann.
Children's Literature and Radio
Initiated by a eulogy written for Jan Procházka, Härtling entered the realm of children's literature with Und das ist die ganze Familie. His subsequent works often addressed difficult social issues, such as Das war der Hirbel, which concerned a maladjusted child, and Oma, which confronted the themes of aging and death. Beyond literature, he engaged with public audiences through his radio show Literatur im Kreuzverhör on Hessischer Rundfunk.
Academic and Professional Contributions
Härtling maintained memberships in various prestigious institutions, including the Academy of Arts, Berlin, the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz, and PEN Germany. During the 1983/84 winter semester, he hosted the Frankfurter Poetik-Vorlesungen, where he famously used a photograph by Robert Capa to inspire his short story Der spanische Soldat. He served as president of the Hölderlin society and edited the magazine Der Monat.
Fast facts
- Born: 1933, Chemnitz
- Died: 2017, Rüsselsheim am Main
- First poetry collection: 1953
- Managing director of S. Fischer Verlag: 1967–1973
- Awarded Gerhart Hauptmann prize: 1971
- Awarded Lion-Feuchtwanger-Preis: 1992
- Awarded Wilhelm Leuschner Medal: 1996
- Awarded Gerty Spies Award: 2006
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Härtling explore in his children's books?
He focused on social problems involving children, including family separation, aging, death, and maladjustment.
Did Härtling write about his own history?
Yes, he frequently used his literature to reclaim his own past, specifically his family's flight from the Red Army and his childhood memories of his father.
Achievements
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 1995
- Wilhelm Leuschner Medal — 1996
- Gerhart Hauptmann prize — 1971
