29. Oktober 2015, 16:30–18:00, Attemsgasse 25, HS 34.K1
Charles Sealsfield: The Man and His Letters
Dr. Nicole Perry (University of Vienna / University of Auckland)
Charles Sealsfield, the nom de plume of Karl Postl (1793-1864) was a Moravian priest, who fled Prague for America, where he eventually became known as “The Greatest American Author.” Recognized for his insightful and captivating writings about America in both English and German, his true identity was only discovered after his death and his works have fallen into relative obscurity. Perhaps even more intriguing than his literary œuvre are his biography and letters. Sealsfield burned the majority of his letters, but what remains paints the picture of a complicated and fascinating man. This lecture will provide insights into Sealsfield’s life and times, and into the intriguing process of moving from archival research to editing his letters.