Michael Hamburger

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Poems by Paul Celan, translated by Michael Hamburger

Michael Peter Leopold Hamburger OBE (born March 22, 1924 in Berlin-Charlottenburg ; † June 7, 2007 in Middleton , Suffolk , England ) was a German-British poet, essayist, literary critic and translator.

Life

Michael Hamburger was born as the son of the professor of paediatrics Richard Hamburger (1884-1940) and his wife Lili Hamburger, geb. Hamburg, born into a Jewish family. His brother Paul Hamlyn (1926–2001) was a publisher, philanthropist and peer. In 1933, Hamburger emigrated with his family from Berlin via Edinburgh to London . He attended the George Watson School in Edinburgh and the Westminster School in London and studied German and French at Christ Church College in Oxford from 1941 . From 1943 to 1947 he served as an infantryman in the British Army . It was used in Italy and Austria. From 1948 to 1952 he lived as a freelance writer and finished his studies. He then taught German at University College London until 1955 , then at the University of Reading until 1984. In the 1970s, he held various visiting professorships in Great Britain and the United States .

In the English-speaking world, reviews of his new volumes of poetry were often introduced with the phrase "Michael Hamburger, better known as a translator". His own poetry received more attention in the German-speaking world, although he did not translate it into his mother tongue himself, but had it translated into German by the Austrian translator Peter Waterhouse .

In addition to poetry, Hamburger devoted himself to his garden in Middleton and in particular to apple cultivation, for which he was  better known in many circles in England - alongside his poet colleague Ted Hughes - than with his poetry publications. In 1951 he married Anne Ellen File, who published several volumes of poetry under the stage name Anne Beresford. The marriage resulted in a son and two daughters.

Hamburger was close friends with WG Sebald , who lived in his neighborhood (Poring), set a monument for him in his English pilgrimage "The Rings of Saturn" (p. 208ff.) And translated the Hamburger several times into English.

Works

Works in German

Volumes of poetry
  • Poems. english and german . Literarisches Colloquium, Berlin 1976, ISBN 3-920392-48-5
  • Come home. Selected poems 1951–1982 . Hanser, Munich-Vienna 1984, ISBN 3-446-13919-2
  • The glade and other poems. Poems in English / German . Droschl, Vienna-Graz 1988, ISBN 3-85420-135-4
  • Weather conditions . Neue Bremer Presse, Bremen 1989, ISBN 3-926683-19-8 (= In Suffolk (German))
  • The earth in its long slow dream. Poems . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 1994, ISBN 3-85256-016-0 (= Variations (German))
  • Tree poems. Bilingual edition . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 1995, ISBN 3-85256-064-0 (= Tree Poems (German), from: Collected poems 1941–1994)
  • Dream poems. Bilingual edition . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 1996, ISBN 3-85256-048-9
  • Indivisible. Poems from six decades . Hanser, Munich-Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-446-19114-3 (= Collected poems 1941–1994 (Ger.))
  • Death poems. Bilingual edition . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 1998, ISBN 3-85256-092-6 (from: Collected poems 1941–1994 and six more recent poems)
  • The survival of the earth. Poems. Bilingual edition . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 1999, ISBN 3-85256-119-1 (= Late (German))
  • In a cold season. Poems. Bilingual edition . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 2000, ISBN 3-85256-154-X
  • Conversation with the muse of old age. Poems . Hanser, Munich-Vienna 2004, ISBN 3-446-20559-4
  • From a diary of non-events. Poems. Bilingual edition . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 2004, ISBN 3-85256-270-8 (= From a diary of non events (German))
  • Conversation with the muse of old age. Poems . Hanser. Munich-Vienna 2004, ISBN 3-446-20559-4
  • Last poems . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 2009, ISBN 978-3-85256-477-7
prose
  • Lost mission. Memories . Fly ash, Stuttgart 1987, ISBN 3-925286-06-3 (= A mug's game (German))
  • Pro Domo. Self-reports, reviews and other prose . Folio Verlag, Vienna-Bozen 2007, ISBN 978-3-85256-344-2
Literary studies and literary criticism
  • Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Two studies . Sachse & Pohl, Göttingen 1964
  • Between languages. Essays and poems . S. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 1966
  • Reason and rebellion. Essays on social criticism in German literature . Hanser, Munich 1969, paperback: Ullstein, Frankfurt am Main-Berlin-Wien 1974, ISBN 3-548-03024-6 (= Reason and energy (Ger.))
  • The Dialectic of Modern Poetry. From Baudelaire to concrete poetry . List, Munich 1972, ISBN 3-471-61443-5 (= The truth of poetry (dt.))
  • Literary experiences. Essays. Luchterhand, Darmstadt & Neuwied 1981, ISBN 3-472-86524-5
  • Truth and poetry. Tensions in Modern Literature from Baudelaire to the Present . Ullstein, Frankfurt am Main-Berlin-Wien 1985, ISBN 3-548-35226-X (= The truth of poetry (dt.))
  • The survival of the lyric. Reports and certificates . Hanser, Munich [a. a.] 1993, ISBN 3-446-17522-9
Editing
  • Jesse Thoor : The work. Sonnets, songs, stories. European Publishing House, Frankfurt am Main 1965

Works in English

Volumes of poetry
  • Flowering Cactus. Poems 1942-1949 . Hand & Flower Press, Aldington 1950
  • Poems 1950–1951 . Hand & Flower Press, Aldington 1952
  • The dual site. Poems . Routledge & Kegan Paul; London 1958
  • Weather and Season. New poems . Longmans, London 1963; Atheneum, New York 1963
  • Feeding the Chickadees . Turret Books, London 1968
  • Penguin Modern Poets. No. 14 . Penguin Books, Harmondsworth 1969 (with Alan Brownjohn and Charles Tomlinson)
  • Traveling . Fulcrum Press, London 1969, ISBN 0-85246-044-9
  • Traveling I-V . Agenda Editions, London 1973, ISBN 0-902400-09-6
  • Ownerless Earth. New & Selected poems . Carcanet Press, Cheadle, Cheshire 1973, ISBN 0-85635-038-9 , ISBN 0-85635-039-7
  • Traveling VI . IM Imprimit, London 1975
  • Real estate . Carcanet, Manchester 1977, ISBN 0-85635-216-0 , ISBN 0-85635-234-9
  • Moralities . Morden Tower Publications, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1977, ISBN 0-905760-03-4
  • Variations in Suffolk, IV . Scepter Press, Knotting 1980
  • Variations . Carcanet New Press, Manchester 1981, ISBN 0-85635-354-X
  • In Suffolk . Five Seasons Press, Hereford 1982
  • Collected poems. 1941-1983 . Carcanet Press, Manchester 1984, ISBN 0-85635-497-X
  • Trees . Embers Handpress, Llangynog 1988, ISBN 1-871570-01-8
  • Selected Poems . Carcanet, Manchester 1988, ISBN 0-85635-752-9
  • Roots in the Air . Anvil Press Poetry, London 1991, ISBN 0-85646-243-8
  • Collected poems. 1941-1994 . Anvil Press Poetry, London 1995, ISBN 0-85646-266-7
  • Late . Anvil Press Poetry, London 1997, ISBN 0-85646-294-2
  • Intersections. Shorter Poems 1994-2000 . Anvil Press Poetry, London 2000, ISBN 0-85646-321-3
  • From a Diary of Non-Events . Anvil Press Poetry, London 2002, ISBN 0-85646-343-4
  • Wild and Wounded. Shorter Poems 2000-2003 . Anvil Press Poetry, London 2004, ISBN 0-85646-371-X
  • Circling the Square . Anvil Press Poetry, London 2006, ISBN 0-85646-392-2
prose
  • Testimonies. Selected Shorter Prose 1950-1987 . Carcanet, Manchester 1989, ISBN 0-85635-814-2
  • Michael Hamburger in Conversation with Peter Dale . Between the Lines, London 1998, ISBN 0-9532841-1-5
Literary criticism
  • Reason and Energy . Routledge & Paul, London 1957
  • From Prophecy to Exorcism. The Premisses of Modern German Literature . Longmans, Green and Co., London 1965
  • The Truth of Poetry. Tensions in modern poetry from Baudelaire to the 1960s . Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London 1969
  • Art as Second Nature . Carcanet New Press, Cheadle 1975, ISBN 0-85635-073-7
  • A Proliferation of Prophets . Carcanet Press, Manchester 1983, ISBN 0-85635-467-8
  • After the second flood. Essays in Modern German Literature . Carcanet, Manchester 1986, ISBN 0-85635-636-0
memoirs
  • A mug's game. Intermittent Memoirs 1924–1954 . Carcanet Press, [Cheadle] 1973 (later as String of Beginnings. Intermittent Memoirs 1924–1954 . Skoob Books Publishing, London 1991)

Translations

  • Poems of Holderlin . Nicholson & Watson, London 1943 (later as Hölderlin: His Poems . Harvill Press, London 1952)
  • Twenty Prose Poems of Baudelaire . Poetry London, London 1946
  • Beethoven : Letters, Journals and Conversations . London, Thames & Hudson 1951
  • Decline. Twelve Poems by G. Trakl . 1887-1914 . Latin Press, St. Ives 1952
  • Albrecht Goes : The Burnt Offering . Gollancz, London 1956 (= The Burnt Offering)
  • Hugo von Hofmannsthal : Poems and Verse Plays . Routledge & Paul, London 1961
  • Hölderlin: Selected Verse . Penguin Bocks, Harmondsworth / Middlesex 1961
  • Bertolt Brecht : Tales from the Calendar . Methuen, London 1961 (= calendar stories)
  • Modern German Poetry 1910–1960 . McGibbon & Kee, London 1962 (with Christopher Middleton)
  • Hugo von Hofmannsthal: Selected Plays and Libretti . Routledge & Paul, London 1963
  • Georg Büchner: Lenz . Calder & Boyars, London 1966
  • Hans Magnus Enzensberger : Poems . Northern House, Newcastle-on-Tyne 1966
  • Günter Grass: Selected Poems . Secker & Warburg , London 1966 (with Christopher Middleton)
  • Friedrich Hölderlin: Poems and Fragments . Routledge & Paul, London 1967 (Arts Council Translation Prize 1969)
  • Nelly Sachs: O the Chimneys. Selected poems . Cape, London 1968
  • The Poems of Hans Magnus Enzensberger . Secker & Warburg, London 1968
  • Hans Magnus Enzensberger: Poems for People Who Don't Read Poems . Secker & Warburg, London 1968
  • Günter Grass: The Poems of Günter Grass . Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, Ringwood 1969 (with Christopher Middleton)
  • Peter Bichsel: And Really Frau Blum Would Very Much Like To Meet The Milkman . Calder and Boyars, London 1968
  • Günter Eich: Journeys . Cape, London 1968
  • Nelly Sachs : Selected Poems . Cape, London 1968
  • Peter Bichsel: Stories for Children . Calder & Boyars, London 1971
  • Paul Celan : Poems . Penguin Books, Harmondsworth 1972; extended edition as Poems of Paul Celan . Persea, New York 1989, ISBN 0-89255-134-8 , ISBN 0-89255-140-2 (European Translation Prize 1990)
  • East German Poetry . Carcanet Press, South Hinksey 1972, ISBN 0-85635-034-6
  • Peter Huchel: Selected Poems . Carcanet New Press, Cheadle 1974, ISBN 0-85635-097-4 , ISBN 0-85635-098-2
  • German Poetry 1910-1975 . Carcanet New Press, Manchester 1977, ISBN 0-916354-08-3 , ISBN 0-85635-161-X , ISBN 0-85635-162-8
  • Helmut Heißenbüttel: Texts . Boyars, London 1977, ISBN 0-7145-2590-1 , ISBN 0-7145-2589-8
  • Franco Fortini : Poems . Arc Publications, Todmorden 1978, ISBN 0-902771-82-5 , ISBN 0-902771-83-3
  • To Unofficial Rilke . Anvil Press Poetry, London 1981, ISBN 0-85646-077-X
  • Peter Huchel: The Garden of Theophrastus . Carcanet New Press, Manchester 1983, ISBN 0-85635-418-X
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Poems and Epigrams . Anvil Press Poetry, London 1983, ISBN 0-85646-100-8 , ISBN 0-85646-099-0
  • Günter Eich: Pigeons and Moles . Skoob Books Publishing, London 1991, ISBN 1-871438-81-0
  • Hans Magnus Enzensberger: Selected Poems . Bloodaxe Books, Newcastle upon Tyne 1994, ISBN 1-85224-290-6 , ISBN 1-85224-291-4
  • Günter Grass: Novemberland. Selected Poems 1956-1993 . Harcourt Brace, London 1996, ISBN 0-15-100177-4
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Roman Elegies and Other Poems and Epigrams . Anvil Press Poetry, London 1996, ISBN 0-85646-274-8
  • Hans Magnus Enzensberger: Kiosk . Bloodaxe Books, Newcastle upon Tyne 1997, ISBN 1-85224-385-6
  • Ernst Jandl: Thingsure . Dedalus Press, Dublin 1997, ISBN 1-901233-11-1
  • Friedrich Hölderlin: Selected Poems and Fragments . Penguin Books, London 1998
  • Günter Grass: Selected Poems 1956 to 1993 . Faber and Faber, London 1999, ISBN 0-571-19518-0
  • WG Sebald : After Nature . Hamish Hamilton, London 2002, ISBN 0-241-14137-0
  • Rainer Maria Rilke: Turning point. Miscellaneous poems 1912-1926 . Anvil Press Poetry, London 2003, ISBN 0-85646-353-1
  • Holderlin's songs of light. Selected Poems . Crescent Moon, Kidderminster 2003, ISBN 1-86171-027-5
  • Rainer Maria Rilke: Dance the Orange. Selected Poems . Crescent Moon, Kidderminster 2003, ISBN 1-86171-031-3
  • WG Sebald: Unrecounted . Hamish Hamilton, London 2004, ISBN 0-241-14276-8

Honors

Memberships

swell

  1. ↑ Kürschner's German Scholars Calendar, 1931, p. 1010

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Hamburger, Michael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hamburger, Michael Peter Leopold
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German-British poet, essayist, literary critic and translator
DATE OF BIRTH March 22, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin-Charlottenburg
DATE OF DEATH June 7, 2007
Place of death Middleton , Suffolk , England