Hermann Broch

Date of Birth: November 1, 1886

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: May 30, 1951

Biography

Hermann Broch was an Austrian writer born in Vienna on November 1, 1886. He is best known for his contributions to modernist literature, particularly through his novels “The Sleepwalkers” and “The Death of Virgil.” Broch came from a prosperous Jewish family and initially pursued a career in the textile industry, taking over the family business. However, he sold the business in 1927 to devote himself entirely to writing and theoretical work. Broch’s writing is notable for its intellectual depth and philosophical exploration, often delving into the crises of modernity and the disintegration of cultural values. His trilogy “The Sleepwalkers,” published between 1930 and 1932, examines the moral and social decline in Europe from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. “The Death of Virgil,” published in 1945, is a dense and poetic novel that reflects Broch’s interest in existential and metaphysical questions. During the rise of the Nazi regime, Broch was arrested in 1938 but was released through the intervention of friends and fellow writers. He emigrated to the United States, where he continued to write and engage in intellectual pursuits. Hermann Broch passed away on May 30, 1951, in New Haven, Connecticut.

5 Interesting Facts about Hermann Broch

1. Hermann Broch was originally trained as an engineer and worked in the family textile business before pursuing a literary career.

2. He was friends with other prominent writers such as James Joyce and Thomas Mann, who admired his work.

3. Broch was a staunch advocate for human rights and spent considerable time working on theories of mass psychology and political theory.

4. “The Death of Virgil” was written while Broch was in exile in the United States and is considered one of his masterpieces.

5. Despite his literary success, Broch’s works were not widely known during his lifetime and only gained substantial recognition posthumously.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hermann Broch

1. “Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part.”

2. “The world has become a void that no longer knows itself.”

3. “We are not the ones who shape the world. The world shapes us.”

4. “The ultimate goal of all ambition is to be happy at home.”

5. “The artist’s task is to save the soul of mankind; and anything less is a dithering while Rome burns.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Hermann Broch’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as he was more focused on his intellectual and literary pursuits rather than amassing wealth. However, his works have gained substantial academic and literary value over the years.