Vicki Baum
Vicki Baum
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Full name: Vicki Baum was born Vicki Lichtenfel (she later changed her last name to Baum in 1916).
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on October 24, 1888, in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Austria)
Died on August 29, 1960, in Munich, West Germany
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: Austrian-German
Profession: Novelist, playwright, and screenwriter
Early Life and Background
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Vicki Baum's early life was marked by a love for writing from an early age. Born into a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna, she was exposed to the city's vibrant cultural scene and was influenced by the works of Austrian writers such as Hugo von Hofmannsthal.
Baum's family moved to Berlin in 1899, where she spent most of her youth. She attended school and began writing stories and plays while still a teenager. After completing her education, Baum worked as a journalist before turning to full-time writing.
Major Accomplishments
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Published over 40 novels, many of which were international bestsellers.
Wrote several successful plays for the stage, including "Trommeln in der Nacht" (Drums in the Night).
* Collaborated with the renowned German film director, Fritz Lang, on several screenplays.
Notable Works or Actions
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Baum's most famous novel is probably _Grand Hotel_, a sweeping tale of love, loss, and redemption set against the backdrop of a luxurious Berlin hotel. Published in 1929, it became an instant hit and has since been translated into numerous languages.
Other notable works include _A Song of Love_ (1931), _The Eternal Adam_ (1946), and _Mirage_ (1953).
Impact and Legacy
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Vicki Baum's writing had a significant impact on German literature in the early 20th century. Her novels often explored themes of love, family, and social class, resonating with readers across Europe.
Baum's experiences as a Jewish woman living through World War II and its aftermath also influenced her work. Many of her later novels deal with themes of displacement, exile, and survival.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Vicki Baum is widely quoted and remembered for her insightful observations on human nature, love, and the complexities of life. Her writing continues to captivate readers with its nuanced characterization, richly detailed settings, and thought-provoking themes.
Baum's work also serves as a testament to her remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Throughout her life, she navigated multiple identities (Austrian-German-Jewish) and adapted to changing cultural landscapes, producing some of her most enduring works during the tumultuous years between the wars.
As an author who defied conventions and explored the human condition with unflinching honesty, Vicki Baum remains a beloved figure in literary history.
Quotes by Vicki Baum
The experiences people have in a large hotel do not constitute entire human destinies, full and completed. They are fragments merely, scraps, pieces.
To me, writing is not a profession. You might as well call living a profession. Or having children. Anything you can’t help doing.
A writer should always have some profession which brings him into close contact with the reality’s of life.
What I like about Hollywood is that one can get along by knowing two words of English – SWELL and LOUSY.
Curious, how each one of us secretly carries his private cemetery around with him and watches it filling up with ever new graves. The last one to be our own...
