Elfriede Jelinek

This story will tell you abot famus writer Elfriede Jelinek, who was born in Mürzzuschlag, EC Austria. A feminist novelist, her books focus on the subordinate role of women in society and their economic and social dependence on men. In her earlier work, such as Michael. Ein Jugendbuch für die Infantilgesellschaft (1972), she used satire to expose the gap between media-inspired ‘reality’ and ordinary life. She also writes poetry and plays for radio and stage. Her farce Burgtheater (1984) caused a scandal, and in 1996 a ban was imposed on her work being performed. In 1998 she was awarded the Georg-Büchner-Preis, and received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2004.

Elfriede Jelinek boigraphy

Elfriede Jelinek (born in 1946) uses an impulsive, complex, fluent and inclusive language that often endorses elements from slang, commercial terminology or swearwords to draw drastic images. In terms of issues, Jelinek favours feminist motives dealing with exploitation, violence and suppression. For many years, she was engaged in a personal struggle with Austria’s rightwing populists.

After their triumphant victory in the national elections in 1999, Jelinek announced that she would leave the country. In 2003, she was awarded a Nobel Prize in literature - at a time when rightwing populist movements were on the rise all over Europe. When Elfriede Jelinek got the Nobel prize she said that Handke would have deserved it more than her. Due to mental illness, Jelinek could not receive the award personally, but recorded a rather peculiar speech instead. Jelikek is mostly known for her plays, but also for some novels such as her first published work “wir sind lockvögel baby” (”We are Decoys, Baby!”).

Works :

Novels :

1. bukolit. horroman; Wien 1979
2. wir sind lockvogel baby!; Reinbek 1970
3. Michael. Ein Jugendbuch fur die Infantilgesellschaft; Reinbek 1972
4. Die Liebhaberinnen; Reinbek 1975
   

   Quote: “I do not want to have the feeling of writing “for eternity,” so to speak.“

5. Die Ausgesperrten; Reinbek 1980
6. Die Klavierspielerin; Reinbek 1983
7. Oh Wildnis, oh Schutz vor ihr; Reinbek 1985
8. Lust; Reinbek 1989
9. Die Kinder der Toten; Reinbek 1997
10. Gier; Reinbek 2000.

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Plays :

1. Was geschah, nachdem Nora ihren Mann verlassen hatte; 1977
2. Clara S.; 1981
   

   Quote: “I think isolation is one of the greatest problems, an ever-growing obstacle to political solidarity.”

3. Burgtheater; 1983
4. Krankheit oder Moderne Frauen; 1984
5. Prasident Abendwind; 1987
6. Wolken.Heim; 1988
7. Totenauberg; 1991
8. Raststatte; 1994
9. Stecken, Stab und Stangl; 1996
10. Ein Sportstuck; 1998
11. er nicht als er; 1998
12. In den Alpen
13. Das Werk
14. Prinzessinnendramen
15. Bambiland; 2003
16. Ulrike Maria Stuart; 2006.

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