Correspondence with Alma Mahler, Franz Werfel, and Adolf Klarmann, 1938-1964.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Rieser, Marianne, 1899-1965.

Contributor:

Rieser, Ferdinand.

Werfel, Albine, 1870-1964.

Fuchs-Robetin, Herbert.

Fuchs, Hanna.

Weisgal, Meyer Wolfe, 1894-1977.

Davidson, Marguerite.

Rieser, S.

Wolff, Ellen.

Language:

English

German

Physical Description:

74 items (234 leaves)

Contained In:

Mahler-Werfel Papers. Folders 987-992.

Place of Publication:

1938-1964.

Language Note:

In German and English.

Biography/History:

Marianne ("Mizzi") Rieser (née Werfel) was the younger of Franz Werfel's two sisters; she was married to Ferdinand Rieser, who from 1926 until 1938 was director of the Zürcher Schauspielhaus; the Riesers emigrated to the U.S. around 1940 and lived in New York City; they returned to Zurich in 1946. After Ferdinand's death in 1947, Marianne returned to New York City; she later moved to California. Marguerite Davidson (née Rieser; known familiarly as "Mucki") was the daughter of Marianne and Ferdinand. Albine Werfel was Werfel's mother. Hanna Fuchs-Robetin (née Werfel; 1894-1964) was Werfel's other sister; she was married to the Prague businessman Herbert Fuchs-Robetin (1886-1949). Dr. S. Rieser was presumably the father of Ferdinand Rieser. Ellen Wolff was possibly a secretary for Marianne Rieser. The periodical Das Buch: Revue für Literatur, Kunst und Wissenschaft published an article about Werfel after his death and requested a photograph or portrait of him.

Summary:

Following are some salient topics of the correspondence: the efforts to arrange for the immigration of Werfel's parents from France to the U.S. in 1941 (Werfel's father died in France but his mother arrived safely in New York City); Marianne Rieser's writing, including attempts to find a theater producer for Rieser's play Eugenia (the letter from Weigsal concerns the Riesers' appeals to him on this subject), and Werfel's various efforts to advise her and help her professionally; the relationship between Franz and Marianne over the years, especially in view of their respective ambitions as writers; the theater business generally in Europe and in the U.S; Marianne and Ferdinand's relationship to Alma; the Riesers' return to Zurich after the war and Ferdinand's death there in 1947 (the latter is the subject of the item from Dr. S. Rieser); preparations for Alma's postwar trip to Europe; and Marianne's later pursuits as a painter. Additional topics that arise in Werfel's letters to his sister include his own development as a writer and his perceptions of Alma. Included is a manuscript of an English translation of Rieser's play Eugenia, entitled Immortal Girl, with an inscription from her; 5 photographic reproductions of paintings by Rieser (3 of them bearing letters to Alma inscribed on the reverse); and an invitation to an exhibition of Rieser's paintings at a gallery in California in 1961, as well as a number of clippings from California newspapers pertaining to that event.

Notes:

Includes 1 item in Franz Werfel's hand; typescript copies of 6 items from Werfel (made by Adolf Klarmann); 6 items from Ferdinand Rieser and 8 items jointly from Marianne and Ferdinand; typescript copies of 4 items from Albine Werfel (made by Ferdinand Rieser and sent to Werfel, with 2 of them contained in a letter from Rieser); typescripts of 1 telegram from Herbert and Hanna Fuchs-Robetin and of 1 letter from the Riesers to the Fuchs-Robetins (contained in a letter from Ferdinand Rieser); a signed carbon copy of 1 item from Weisgal to Ferdinand Rieser; 1 item from the editor of Das Buch to Marianne Rieser; 2 items and 2 postscripts from Davidson; 1 telegram from Dr. S. Rieser; a carbon copy of 1 item from Adolf Klarmann; and 2 items from Ellen Wolff, on behalf of Marianne Rieser.

1 letter (1945) is incomplete; only the first page is extant.