-
Bertolt Brecht
Born in Augsburg, Babaria (German Empire) -
Period: to
Life in Bavaria
Born to a Protestant mother and a Catholic father, father worked for a paper mill and became managing director in 1914, Brecht was educated in religion which influenced his later writing -
The Great War
Brecht was 16, initially enthusiastic about joining his classmates in combat but quickly changed his mind and stated they were "swallowed by the army," his father then found an alternative to joinging the army by suggesting Brecht take an additional medical course at Munich University -
Newspaper Articles
Wrote newspaper articles under the name "Bert Brecht" -
Munich University
Began studying drama with Arthur Kutscher, who introduced Brecht to iconoclastic dramatist and cabaret-star Frank Wedekind -
First Play
Baal, his first full length written play arose from an argument between Kutscher in his drama seminar--- this began a reputation for countering other works.
"Anyone can be creative, it's rewriting other people that's a challenge." -
Drafted
Drafted into German military and posted back to Augsburg as a medical orderly in a military clinic, the war ended a month later -
Second play
completed Drums in the Night -
A Son
Has a son with girlfriend Paula Banholzer -
Period: to
Political Cabaret
Took part in political cabaret of Munich comedian Karl Valentin, who he compared to Charlie Chaplin -
The Critic
While living in Munich, he caught the attention of influential Berlin Critic Herbert Iherin- he wrote: "At 24 the writer Bert Brecht has changed Germany's Literary Complexion overnight." He also said Drums in the Night had "given our time a new tone, a new melody, a new vision.." -
Marriage
Married Viennese oper-singer Marianne Zoff, their daught, Hanne Hiob became a successful German actress -
Mysteries of a Barbershop
written as a slapstick film, directed by Erich Engel and starring Karl Valentin, now considered one of the most important films in German history -
The start of epic theatre
collaborated with Lion Feuchtwanger on an apaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II, proved as a mileston in Brecht's early theatrical and dramaturgical development, started epic theatre
