Kafka died in Kierling
Kafka’s favourite Music
Carl Loewe: Graf Eberstein. (Text: Ludwig Uhland.) Interpreted by Hermann Prey. (Youtube – Sound only)
This ballade was Kafkas favourite piece of music (according to his friend Max Brod and this overview article).
The text of the ballade is quite fresh in the end – fresher than it sounds in the english translation (which translates “Schön Jungfräulein” with “My dearest wife” instead of “beautiful little virgin”)
Kafka-Gedenkraum Kierling
Don’t expect much when you go there. It’s improvised, poorly presented and you don’t see any personal belongings of Kafka – only a few copied documents, pictures and books. The room, where Kafka died, is not accessable; when I went there the last time, it was let to an elderly lady, who just lived there.
The key to the commemorative room is in the house; another elderly lady, who lives in the ground floor, hands it out. Look up the opening hours and details.
In 2011 it was not clear if the Kafka Gesellschaft can further on afford the rent for the Kafka Gedenkraum or not and if it gets closed. (Article about the situation in Der Standard)
Hello,
I found at your site »Kafka died in Kierling the picture No.14 with a drawing (the style could refer to Kafka). Is like that? If yes, I knew gladly more of it.
Best regards,
Christoph Polster
Dear Christoph Polster,
thank you for your very much appreciated comment!
Yes, the drawing in that story and the style of the drawing refer to Kafka. Although it’s also the way I always draw – the drawing was done by me.
I folded a sheet of paper and drew onto it. So the “door” of paper can be opened indeed; but if you open it, you just encounter the other half of the same folded white sheet of paper. And the “hook” that “locks” the door consists of the lines of a pencil.
The other pictures in the same story I took when i lived in Kierling for a year, ca. 400 meters from the Sanatorium Hoffmann up the same road in an old house. I went several times to the Kafka Gedenkraum and each time I was deeply moved to enter the house where he died. I never took a picture in that bathroom.
Does that answer your question?
Besides that I admire your political work.
Best regards,
Simon