Ludwig Kessing

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Honorary grave of Ludwig Kessing in the Catholic cemetery in Essen-Kupferdreh .

Ludwig Kessing (born August 14, 1869 in Essen-Überruhr ; † February 24, 1940 in Essen-Kupferdreh ) was a German miner and worker poet .

Life

As the son of a miner, Ludwig Kessing attended elementary school. Kessing, who recently spoke French fluently and also some English and Latin, was actually aiming for a higher education because he wanted to study. But the death of his father in 1882 and the resulting economic hardship, as well as the care for his siblings, prevented a career choice that corresponded to his inclinations. At the age of 14 he became a miner like his father. After 42 years underground, he was an invalid.

Intellectual creation

Kessing continued his education as an autodidact . He has been writing poetry since he was 16. In 1900 his first volume of poetry was self-published. After the First World War he brought out several small volumes that received greater attention. His poems speak above all of mining class and professional experiences as well as the fate of the miner on site. His poetry is characterized by a strong religious attitude and expresses an unshakable trust in God. In his works, Kessing is a transmitter of Catholic social ethics around 1900, which was also expressed in his active participation in the training work of the Christian miners' union in the decades around the turn of the century. As the first Rhenish-Westphalian poet to emerge from the mining tradition, he found broader recognition with his literary work.

Works (selection)

  • Im Reiche der Kohlen - Ein Bergmannsgesangbuch, self-published, Steele 1900,
  • In the shadow of the shafts - A miner's game in five elevators (drama), Verlag Fredebeul & Koenen, Essen 1923
  • On to the light! (Poems), West German Printing Society, Essen 1924
  • Pick and harp (poems), Christian trade union, miners in Germany, Essen 1926
  • The miner Marienminne - A mining ave, Verlag Laumann Dülmen iW 1927
  • Schlagende Wetter - A play from the life of a miner in a prelude and three acts (drama), Verlag Vollmer, Münster 1929:
  • Wake up! (Poems), edited by W. Kessing, Grauthoff Verlag, Wattenscheid 1944
  • The Angel of the Lord - Mariengedichte, Verlag Wolf (2nd edition), Wanne-Eickel 1954
  • Hut and home (poems), Invalidenwerk publishing house, Bochum 1956,
  • Man call, man word! (Poems), Verlag Invalidenwerk, Bochum 1956

Honors

  • In Essen, the Kessingstrasse , the Ludwig-Kessing-Park , the Ludwig-Kessing-Grundschule and the Ludwig-Kessing-Heim are named after the son of the city.
  • The city of Bochum has the Kessingplatz after the workers' poet of the Ruhr named.

literature

  • Erwin Dickhoff: Essen heads. Who was what . Richard Bracht Verlag, Essen 1985, ISBN 3-87034-037-1
  • Great figures from the diocese . In: Wilhelm Bettecken: Cross over coal and iron. Our diocese of Essen . Hans Driewer publishing house, Essen 1958

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Kessing, Ludwig
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German miners and workers' poets
DATE OF BIRTH August 14, 1869
PLACE OF BIRTH Food overthrow
DATE OF DEATH February 24, 1940
Place of death Essen-Kupferdreh