Richard Beer-Hofmann. A scholarly Biography

The goal of this research project is: the first comprehensive scholarly biography of Richard Beer-Hofmann (1866-1945), a highly regarded author of Viennese Modernism. For this, the rich unpublished as well as published materials literary works, correspondence, ego and reception documents, existing research on life and work of the author will be reflected selectively, contextualized by means of methods from biographical and cultural studies, and systematically compiled for the overall biographical presentation a practice which has already proved successful in many similar projects of the longstanding research institute of the applicant. With regard to Beer-Hofmann, his escape from narcissistic dandyism, the productive forms and processes of mediation between his self attributed Austrian and his Jewish identity, the underexplored interwar period, during which he worked as a dramaturg and director besides his efforts as a playwright struggling with his biblical drama cycle on and around King David, and his final years at the fringe of a productive exile community will be of particular interest. For all stages and spheres of Beer-Hofmanns almost 80 years-long life, the Leo Baeck Institute in New York and the Houghton Library in Cambridge, MA, archives in Jerusalem, in Austria and the German Literature Archive in Marbach/N. provide rich archival material, large parts of which have already been presorted for the biographical work during stays and research fellowships lasting several months in the past. Alongside the biography, an innovative web-based application will be developed that allows to (re-)model, analyze, and visualize the network of the Young Vienna circle. It will support the biographical work and accompany the book project. Its distinct purpose is to provide a sophisticated tool consisting of three exploratory and interactive visualizations that helps to examine the ever-changing figurations of the Young Vienna circle on a timeline.