Correspondence to Alma Mahler and Franz Werfel, 1941-1949.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Habe, Hans, 1911-1977.

Language:

German

Physical Description:

7 items (10 leaves)

Contained In:

Mahler-Werfel Papers. Folder 428.

Place of Publication:

1941-1949.

Language Note:

In German.

Biography/History:

Hans Habe (born János Békessy) was a journalist, writer of novels and plays, and screenplay writer. He was born in Budapest of Jewish parents who had converted to Catholicism. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1940 and served in the American army during World War II.

Summary:

In 1 letter to Franz Werfel, Habe congratulates him on his novel, The Song of Bernadette, and also talks about his speaking engagements for the U.S. War Department. In his letters to Alma Mahler, Habe often mentions his current work. In 1947 he responds to Alma's request for advice about her difficulties in obtaining a visa for her planned trip to Austria. In a letter of 1941, in a depressed mood due to his divorce proceedings, he regrets having missed what he was sure was a memorable social evening at Alma's home ("den Bruno Walter-Abend"), and goes on to reflect on Alma's talents as a hostess, comparing and contrasting her to the famous Jewish salon hostesses of the 19th century (Rachel Varnhagen, Henriette Herz, Dorothea Schlegel).