In his latest novel by the Austrian author Menasse has attributed to the European politician Walter hallstein invented quotes. In spite of this geschichtsk of suffered from the author awarded a prize.
Regardless of the public criticism of his careless handling of historical quotations and facts in his Europe the novel “The capital” (2017), Robert Menasse (64) on 18. January get the Carl-sugar Mayer-medal of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate to be awarded. The Mainz state Chancellery of the Minister President Malu Dreyer (SPD) has been confirmed.
Menasse was dedicated to the increasingly Europe-policy issues, said the SPD politician on the grounds that “It is refreshing that such issues found in the literature.” In a joint statement with the state Chancellery, the Austrian writer admitted, in the meantime, shortcomings in the historical Research for his book. By 2017, the price received for its EU novel and the German book.
Only rarely is the scene of a novel: The EU-Commission in Brussels
“It was due to a mistake of mine, Walter hallstein, in the public Statements and non-fictional texts and quotes that he has literally not said,” said the Viennese writer about the critical passages of his book. “It was thoughtless, I say in confidence to hear the locates inaugural speech by hallstein in Auschwitz,” was Menasse in his current position correct: “This has not taken place.”
Already on Saturday (05.01.2019) had apologized for the 64-Year-old in the weekend edition of “The world” for his misconduct, however, the “artificial excitement” to the incident. Free dealing with sources for scientists and journalists are not allowed, and this is true for writers and Poets, Menasse in his personal opinion.
What is the dispute?
In his Bestseller “The capital” has attributed to the distinguished writer and self-confessed Europe-advocate of Menasse, the CDU politician and former EEC Commission President Walter Hallstein (1901-1982) statements and quotes that this is not literally expressed in public. “The abolition of the Nation is the European idea”, quoted by Menasse, the head of the EU’s predecessor organization. The set of hall stone has never said so.
The German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, the CDU state Secretary Hallstein (center) and Italian Prime Minister Antonio Segni, signed in 1957, the “treaties of Rome”
Already in 2013, Robert Menasse, this alleged quotation has been used in two Essays that he had written together with a Professor for European politics, Ulrike Guérot,. In Speeches and lectures Menasse quoted the politician Hallstein repeated incorrectly. In his 2017 published book, the author argues, however, Hallstein had maintained his inaugural speech as EC President in 1958 on the site of the former concentration camp at Auschwitz. Also, this statement freely invented and wore Menasse sharp criticism.
Historian uncovers incorrect quotes
In 2017, the renowned historian Heinrich had doubts-August Winkler, the alleged hallstein-quotes in a Spiegel Interview. “If Guérot and Menasse can be based on sources, the previous research is not known, you should call this. As long as there are no reliable evidence of the hallstein attributed quotes, these must be considered as apocryphal, that is, as false.” The wrong quotes in about menasse’s novel “The capital” would not be the political Person, Walter hallstein appropriate, so Winkler.
Heinrich August Winkler doubts the historical accuracy of the hall-stone-quotes
Author Robert Menasse has not responded publicly to Winkler’s allegations. As of 2018, the editor of “the world” in an article, took over again in this supposed hall of stone-quote and Winkler asked him then, according to the source, had to give to the writers to the editors to have the quotes have been invented.
Criticism and assistance
The Evangelical officer for Culture, Johann Hinrich Claussen, accused Menasse even an instrumentalisation of the Holocaust. The hall of stone-speech in the former NS-concentration camps was to lay a “tasteless Auschwitz-invention” and “Holo-Kitsch”, said Claussen, the Evangelical press service (epd) in Frankfurt.
Also, the cultural studies scholar and peace prize winner Aleida Assmann criticized Robert Menasse. The case is a “lesson” for the Left and for bourgeois intellectuals who had not taken after 1968, the concept of “Nation”. At the time, hardly anyone had identified with the German Nation,” said Assmann of the “world on Sunday”. You appeal to the new middle class, as a matter of urgency with the relationship to the “democratic Nation” and to not leave this to the radical Right.
Aleida Assmann received in 2018, together with her husband, the peace prize of the German book trade
The publisher is to Menasse
About menasse’s publishing House Suhrkamp defended his long-time author. This non-‘ve made “in the context of fictional texts and public Statements of” error and apologized for it. “The publisher can not add anything,” said Suhrkamp spokesperson Tanja Postpischil on Tuesday (08.01.2019) in Berlin. The importance of his literary work, the current discussion will not change anything.
The state Chancellery also stressed, Menasse have created an impressive literary oeuvre, and with his dedicated Fight for the European idea of the political debate about the future of the EU is very enriched. The regional government in Mainz had been looking after the advent of the massive criticism of the conversation with Menasse.
In recognition of his many years of work as a writer, of him will therefore, as planned, the Carl-Zuckmayer-medal on 18. January in Mainz awarded. Since 1979, the prize for literature is awarded each year “for services to the German language and to the artistic word”. Previous winners include actor Mario Adorf, rock musician Udo Lindenberg and of the Swiss writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt.