Broch, Hermann, 1886-1951

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Austrian writer Hermann Broch was born in Vienna on November 1, 1886. His major works include Die Schlafwandler (1930-32), Bergroman (1935-1951), and Der Tod des Vergil (1945). Broch died in New Haven, Connecticut, on May 30, 1951.

From the description of Hermann Broch archive, 1872-1990 (inclusive) 1930-1951 (bulk). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702131709

Epithet: writer

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000758.0x000213

Hermann Broch, an essayist, novelist, philosopher, and sociologist, was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1886. Considered to be one of the leading European novelists of the first part of the 20th century, he lived in the United States after 1938. His two major novels are THE SLEEPWALKERS (1931) and THE DEATH OF VIRGIL (1945).

From the description of Hermann Broch collection, 1938-1972. (Princeton University Library). WorldCat record id: 177675071

Hermann Broch, author of Die Schlafwandler and Der Tod des Vergil, was born into a middle-class Jewish family in Vienna on November 1, 1886. The son of a textile industrialist, Broch studied textile engineering as a young man and gradually assumed management of the family business. Although he performed successfully in this capacity and became a respected member of the industrial community, his real interests lay in the intellectual-cultural sphere. From 1925 to 1930 he was enrolled at the University of Vienna, taking courses in mathematics and philosophy. With the sale of the factory in 1927, Broch relinquished his business obligations and dedicated himself to a life of writing.

During the 1930s Broch produced a considerable number of writings, including the novel trilogy Die Schlafwandler (1930-32), Die unbekannte Grösse (1933), the first version of the incomplete novel Bergroman (1935-36), numerous articles, essays, and poems, as well as a play, Die Entsühnung (1934). After a brief incarceration by the Nazis in 1938, he left Austria, traveling first to Scotland and then to the United States.

In America, Broch became friends with other academic and literary exiles, including Hannah Arendt, Albert Einstein, and Erich Kahler. These years brought financial hardship. Broch's publications, although well received in American literary circles, could not be marketed in Europe during the war. Without a remunerative academic position, he lived primarily from occasional fellowships from the Guggenheim, Rockefeller, and Bollingen foundations. Between 1942 and 1948, Broch rented quarters in the home of Erich and Alice Loewy Kahler in Princeton. While there, he completed his novel, Der Tod des Vergil (1945). During his years in exile, theory of knowledge and mass physchology were dominant themes in much of Broch's expository writing. He also continued to produce political essays, taking a strong stand against Fascism and war and for the preservation of human rights and democracy.

In December 1909, Broch married Franziska von Rothermann. From this marriage, which lasted a little over thirteen years, Hermann Friedrich Broch de Rothermann was born. In December 1949, Broch married Annemarie Meier-Graefe. The last two years of Broch's life were spent in New Haven, where he died on May 30, 1951.

For further biographical information, see Hermann Broch in Selbstzeugnissen und Bilddokumenten (1966) by Manfred Durzak and Hermann Broch: Eine Biographie (1985) by Paul Michael Lützeler.

From the guide to the Hermann Broch archive, 1872-1990s, 1930-1951, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars. Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars records. 1927-1949. New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Richard Beer-Hofmann correspondence, 1882-1967. Houghton Library
referencedIn Jean Starr Untermeyer papers, 1924-1970 (inclusive) Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Helen and Kurt Wolff papers, 1888-1994 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Pantheon Books. Records, 1944-1968. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Theo Feldman papers, 1629-1957 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Clark, Eleanor, 1913-1996. Eleanor Clark papers, 1876-1993. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Broch, Hermann, 1886-1951. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1952. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Torberg, Friedrich, 1908-1979. Correspondence : with Alma Mahler, Franz Werfel, and Adolf Klarmann 1940-1979. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn H. F. Broch de Rothermann papers, 1916-circa 2001, 1953-1986 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Schuyler, Steven. Steven Schuyler papers relating to Kurt Wolff and Hermann Broch, 1943-1991. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Geiringer, Gertrud. [Guestbook], 1920-1949. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Broch, Hermann, 1886-1951. Hermann Broch collection, 1938-1972. Princeton University Library
referencedIn Lipman-Wulf, Peter. Peter Lipman-Wulf papers, 1938-1982. University at Albany, University Libraries
creatorOf Hermann Broch archive, 1872-1990s, 1930-1951 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Feldman, Theo, 1891-1957. Theo Feldman papers, 1629-1957. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Vol. VII. (ff.) Bradley-Brogan.James Stern, writer: Mary Lynn Broe, Professor of English at Rochester Institute of Technology, USA: Letter to James Stern from Mary Lynn Broe: 1989.James Stern, writer: Bernard Brassey: Letter to James Stern from Ber... British Library
creatorOf Broch, Hermann, 1886-1951. Correspondence to Alma Mahler and Franz Werfel, 1941-1950. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Robert Pick papers, 1915-1977. Houghton Library
referencedIn Richard Von Mises papers, 1908-1950. Houghton Library
referencedIn Geiringer, Gertrud. [Guestbook], 1920-1949. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Sams, Jeremy. Zerline's tale / by Jeremy Sams ; adapted from the story Die Erzählung der Magd Zerline, from the novel Die Schuldlosen by Hermann Broch, 2007. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Józef Wittlin correspondence and compositions, 1940-1976. Houghton Library
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
creatorOf Broch, Hermann, 1886-1951. Letters, 1940-1946, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Loveman, Amy. Amy Loveman letters, 1935-1943. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955. Typed letter signed : Saranac Lake, New York, to [Hermann] Broch, 1940 July 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn American Council for Emigres in the Professions. American Council for Emigres in the Professions records, 1930-1974. University at Albany, University Libraries
referencedIn Arendt, Hannah. Hannah Arendt papers concerning Hermann Broch, 1942-1975. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Arendt, Hannah. Hannah Arendt papers concerning Hermann Broch, 1942-1975. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Pick, Robert, 1898-. Robert Pick papers, 1915-1977. Houghton Library
referencedIn Chimera papers, (1943-1959) Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Beatrice Rose Waldinger Papers, 1918-1967, (bulk 1938-1951) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allesch, Ea von, 1875-1953 person
associatedWith Allesch, Emma von. person
associatedWith American Council for Emigres in the Professions. corporateBody
associatedWith Arendt, Hannah. person
associatedWith Arendt, Hannah, 1906-1975 person
correspondedWith Beer-Hofmann, Richard, 1866-1945 person
associatedWith Bollingen Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Borgese, Giuseppe Antonio, 1882-1952. person
associatedWith Broch de Rothermann, Hermann Friedrich. person
associatedWith Broch family. family
associatedWith Broch family. family
associatedWith Bródy, Dániel. person
associatedWith Brody, Daniel. person
associatedWith Bunzel, Joseph. person
associatedWith Bunzel, Joseph. person
associatedWith Canby, Henry Seidel, 1878-1961. person
associatedWith Canby, Marion G. (Marion Gause), 1885-1974 person
associatedWith Canby, Marion Ponsonby Gause. person
associatedWith Clark, Eleanor, 1913-1996. person
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955. person
associatedWith Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars corporateBody
associatedWith Faber du Faur, Curt von. person
associatedWith Federn, Paul. person
associatedWith Feldman, Theo, 1891-1957. person
associatedWith Fritz, Egon, 1903- person
associatedWith Gauss, Christian Frederick, 1878-1951. person
associatedWith Geiringer, Gertrud. person
associatedWith Geiringer, Gertrud. person
associatedWith Goll, Yvan, 1891-1950. person
associatedWith Hofmannsthal, Hugo von, 1874-1929. person
associatedWith Huxley, Aldous, 1894-1963. person
associatedWith Johnson, Alvin Saunders, 1874- person
associatedWith Kahler, Alice Loewy. person
associatedWith Kahler, Alice Loewy. person
associatedWith Kahler, Erich, 1885-1970. person
associatedWith Lipman-Wulf, Peter. person
associatedWith Lipman-Wulf, Peter. person
associatedWith Loveman, Amy. person
associatedWith Ludovyk-Gyömröi, Edith. person
associatedWith Ludovyk-Gyömröi, Edith. person
associatedWith Lützeler, Paul Michael. person
associatedWith Lützeler, Paul Michael. person
associatedWith Mann, Thomas, 1875-1955. person
associatedWith Meier-Graefe, Annemarie, 1905-1994 person
associatedWith Muir, Edwin, 1887-1959. person
associatedWith Muir, Willa, 1890-1970. person
associatedWith Neumann, Robert, 1897-1975. person
associatedWith New School for Social Research (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Pantheon Books. corporateBody
associatedWith Pantheon Verlag. corporateBody
associatedWith Pick, Robert, 1897-1975. person
associatedWith Pick, Robert, 1898- person
associatedWith Rhein Verlag. corporateBody
associatedWith Rogers, Frances Colby. person
associatedWith Rogers, Frances Colby. person
associatedWith Rothstein, Irma. person
associatedWith Sahl, Hans. person
associatedWith Saiko, George. person
associatedWith Sams, Jeremy. person
associatedWith Schuyler, Steven. person
associatedWith Suhrkamp Verlag. corporateBody
associatedWith Thiess, Frank. person
associatedWith Thiess, Frank. person
associatedWith Torberg, Friedrich, 1908- person
associatedWith Untermeyer, Jean Starr, 1886-1970. person
associatedWith Vietta, Egon. person
associatedWith Virgil. person
correspondedWith Von Mises, Richard, 1883-1953 person
correspondedWith Waldinger, Beatrice Rose. person
associatedWith Weigand, Hermann John, 1892- person
associatedWith Weismann, Willi. person
associatedWith Weismann, Willi. person
associatedWith Willi Weismann Verlag. corporateBody
correspondedWith Wittlin, Józef, 1896- person
associatedWith Wolff, Helen, 1906-1994. person
associatedWith Wolff, Helene. person
associatedWith Wolff, Kurt, 1887-1963. person
associatedWith Züllsdorf, Volkmar von. person
associatedWith Züllsdorf, Volkmar von. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Austria
Austria
Austria--Vienna
Subject
Austrian literature
Authors and publishing
Authors and publishing
Authors, Austrian
Authors, Austrian
Authors, Austrian
Democracy
Ethics
Exiles' writings, Austrian
Human rights
Jews
Jews
Knowledge, Theory of
Mathematics
Philosophy in literature
Politics and culture
Politics and literature
Psychology in literature
Social psychology
Values
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1886-11-01

Death 1951-05-30

Americans

German,

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 21858481