German Exiles in Southern California
Leonhard Frank (1882-1961)
Leonhard
Frank began his artistic career studying painting and working as
a commercial artist in Munich. He then turned his talents to writing
and moved to Berlin. His first novel, Die Räuberband
(The Robber Band; 1914), awarded the prestigious Fontane-Prize,
illustrates his belief in the strength of individuals and hope for
a socialist society. During World War I his pacifistic ideas forced
him to emigrate to Switzerland (1915-18). After the war, Frank returned
to Munich, then moved again to Berlin where he lived until 1933.
The National Socialists banned Frank's writings, forcing him to
once again emigrate to Switzerland; here he lived until 1938 when
he moved to France. Unfortunately, Frank was captured and interned
several times in France before he was able to flee Europe via Lisbon
to the United States.
In Los Angeles Leonhard Frank lived at 6500 Yucca Street
in Hollywood. While Thomas Mann was writing Doktor Faustus,
Leonhard Frank played a crucial role listening to and discussing
Mann's novel with him.
Frank returned to Germany in 1950; his last important work, Links,
wo das Herz ist (1952; Heart on the Left) was
published in 1952.
Years
in Southern California: 1940-1950.
References
Autorenlexikon
deutschsprachiger Literatur des 20. Jahrhunderts. Edited
by Manfred Brauneck. Reinbeck bei Hamburg: Rowohlt, 1991.
Biographisches
Lexikon zur Weimarer Republik. Edited by Wolfgang Benz and
Hermann Graml. Munich: C.H. Beck, 1988.
Encyclopaedia
Britannica.
Thomas
Mann Tagebücher 28.5.1946 - 31.12.1948. Edited by Inge
Jens. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer, 1989.
For more information contact the Feuchtwanger
Librarian.
