Thomas Bernhard: Regensburg and the art of the scandal

Thomas Bernhard: Regensburg and the art of the scandal

In the fall of 1967, the well -known writer Thomas Bernhard made his way from Vienna to Regensburg to accept an important honor. The culture group of German industry awarded him the renowned literary award, which was endowed with a sum of DM 8,000. For Bernhard, who had just been released from the hospital and was fighting with health problems, this money was of great importance. Interestingly, however, he was not interested in the city of Regensburg himself. Rather, the cash premium demanded its attention.

The journey to Regensburg lasted about four hours at the time. Bernhard, who was known for his sharp joke and frequent criticism, noted that the Danube became increasingly narrower and the landscape was increasingly nicer - until it finally became "drunk, gray and bland", which was the description of Regensburg for him. However, he also temporarily found refuge in the hotel "Thurn and Taxis", where a colleague, the poet Elisabeth Borchers, had checked in. The award ceremony itself took place in the old town hall and turned out to be uncomfortable when the chairman of German industry, Berthold von Bohlen and Halbach, actually confused the gender of the two award winners.

criticism as an art form

Bernhard's negative comments about the cities he visited were often a recurring motive in his work. Regensburg did not even have to hear himself as terribly as some other cities that he covered with a comparable ridicule. In his books, he often expressed derogatory about places and their inhabitants, which not only reflected on his opinion, but was also an invitation to his readers to critically question his own environment. In many places that he once criticized, he was almost celebrated as an honorary citizen. The union of sharp criticism and a certain cultural recognition is a remarkable phenomenon.

A particularly concise example of his choice of words was found in his work "The Power of Habit", in which he titled Augsburg as a "musty, loathous nest" and as "LechCloake" - which led to a tangible scandal. The mayor of the city turned to the publisher and cleared his displeasure. Regardless of this controversy, Bernhard's blunt manner is often seen as a kind of art form that promotes critical thinking.

Bernhard's view of cities

In his writings, Bernhard did not leave a stone on the other when it came to presenting cities. In Bremen, for example, he accepted a literary award to hide in the hotel room immediately afterwards, avoid the sight of the city. Passau was called "one of the ugliest cities at all" in "The Leger", while Paris was considered "hideous" for Bernhard. For him, Vienna was also anything but a place that could be estimated. He described the city as a "terrible genius machine" and pointed out in one of his writings that it would be better protected before a stay in Vienna.

an exception was Lisbon, which was praised in his work as the "most wonderful of all cities". These statements also illustrate the ambivalent relationship of Bernhard to various urban places, which was often shaped by a deep longing for a "home" that was found for him in his home town of Upper Austria.

The Bräunerhof in Vienna was a popular retreat for Bernhard, where he often sat with a "melange" for hours and worked on his texts. Despite his aversion to the city, he loved this visit to the coffee house because he found the possibilities that did not offer him the hectic city life. During his stays there, the picture strengthened that he lives in "a sewer to the edge with her rubbish".

In many of these considerations, there is not only the pointed tongue, but also a gigantic preference for verbal skills - which Bernhard knew to be in stories. With regard to Regensburg, it remains to be noted that the harsh criticism of the city was a constant challenge that gone through his entire work. Information on this can be found in his posthumously published work "My prices" and in the "Urban scattering" collection, which gives a nice overview of his often humorous, sometimes tragic way to write. Bernhard's artistic legacy left a lasting impression even after his death and is highly valued in the literary world.

The quotes and mentions in Bernhard's works not only reflect his personal perspective, but also invite readers to think about these thoughts and form their own opinions. The author masterfully uses this combination of sharp observation and creative voice power to achieve an awe.

His radical judgments became the trademark of his work, and they are the focus of an artistic examination of the world, which still appeals to many readers. Although his criticism was often painful, they have a certain timeless relevance that is also heard in today's world and stimulates thinking.