Dokumente und Erzeugnisse

Kraus, Karl. Dokumente und Erzeugnisse. Zürich: Pegasus Verlag, ND (1945). First edition. Octavo. Original printed wraps. Collection of articles and essays on Karl Kraus by Theodor Hacker, Edwin Rollett, Werner Kraft, Armin Friedmann, Ernst Krenek, Georg Moenius, and others. Text in German. Publisher’s fold-out prospectus and ordering slip for Kraus’ “Die letzten Tage der Menscheit,” laid-in. Minor age wear, staining and scuffing on wraps. Minor foxing to margins of few pages, markings in pencil on some leaves, easily erasable. Overall good+ condition. g. Softcover.

Karl Kraus (1874-1936) was an Austrian Jewish writer and journalist, known as a satirist, essayist, playwright, aphorist and poet. He is considered to be one of the foremost German-language satirists of the 20th century. In April of 1899 Kraus renounced Judaism and in the same year founded his own newspaper, Die Fackel (The Torch), which he continued to direct, publish, and write until his death. In it he launched his attacks on hypocrisy, psychoanalysis, nationalism of the pan-German movement, corruption of the Habsburg empire, laissez-faire economic policies, and numerous other betes noires. During its publication Kraus was sued by many diverse offended parties. While at the beginning Die Fackel was similar to journals like the magazine Weltbühne, it became more and more a magazine that was privileged in its editorial independence, that Kraus could provide by his funding. In short, Die Fackel printed what Kraus wanted to be printed. In its first years it included many well-known writers and artists such as Egon Friedell, Oskar Kokoschka, Adolf Loos, Peter Altenberg, Richard Dehmel, Heinrich Mann, August Strindberg, Franz Werfel, Oscar Wilde and Houston Stewart Chamberlain. After 1911, however, Kraus was usually the sole author. Kraus’ work was published nearly exclusively in Die Fackel, of which 922 irregularly-issued numbers appeared in total. (29202) $45