Franz Werfel, Verdi. Roman der Oper [Verdi: A Novel of the Opera]

Hans Wagener (University of California, Los Angeles)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.2: German-language Writing and Culture: Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, 800-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1924

Places

Czech Republic (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

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The novel

Verdi. Roman der Oper

[

Verdi. A Novel of the Opera

] was the first of Werfel’s works to be released by the newly founded, Vienna-based publishing house of Paul Zsolnay. Until the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938, all of Werfel’s books were published by Zsolnay. Work on the novel was completed in 1923 and it appeared on 1 April 1924. Plans for this, Werfel’s first major novel, had already been conceived twelve years earlier. The novel was an immediate great success. The English translation came out within the next year (transl. Helen Jessiman. New York: Simon and Schuster 1925; London: Jarrolds 1926). Given Werfel’s enthusiasm for Verdi since his adolescence, it is little wonder that he eventually wrote a novel about him. Later, by translating and reworking seven…

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1843 words

Citation: Wagener, Hans. "Verdi. Roman der Oper". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 September 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=22183, accessed 23 April 2024.]

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