Literary magazine »Signum«: A red star

One of the few literary magazines in Saxony that is supported by the state and the state capital, unfortunately only from deadline to deadline, is “Signum”, thoughtfully edited by the Dresden writer Norbert Weiß. The current issue surprises with a homage to the Austrian writer Ulrich Becher (1910–1990), who was born in Berlin, exiled to the USA via Switzerland, France and Brazil and then settled back in Austria – a red star in the literary sky of the post-war years. His graphics, watercolors and linocuts inspired George Grosz, whom he met in Berlin. It was also Grosz who took Becher (no relation to Johannes R. Becher) under his wing, which resulted in a lifelong friendship. The contact with the Grosz circle was enough for the National Socialists to put him on the list of banned authors.

The sketch “Highly Musical Lady”, an early text, beautifully reflects Ulrich Becher’s poetic language, which is characterized by humorous irony. Also his talent for storytelling. He describes an episode experienced by his mother, a Swiss pianist, as a maid in a lieutenant colonel’s house before Becher’s birth: the rabid landlord forbade his wife to play the harp. Only in his old age does he tolerate their art; he no longer hears anything. It’s described so movingly that you feel like you’re there on the plush sofa.

Norbert Weiß offers an introduction to bring us closer to the person and life of Becher, who remained homeless. In the knowledgeable and easy-to-read text, Weiß looks at a chapter of the “New York Novellas”, probably Becher’s most important work of “delicate mastery”. Jens Wonneberger uses the example of the 1957 novel “Kurz nach 4” to illustrate the breadth of themes of the “almost forgotten devil” (Eva Menasse). Other articles deal with the novel “Murmeljagd” and the Schweyk-esque play “Bockerer,” which had around 100 performances in Vienna and was filmed twice.

The prose works of contemporary authors avoid the experimental language games that are expected in many other literary magazines. Patricia Büttiker, a Zurich author, describes the “turning points” of life in five everyday incidents. In a brilliant essay that begins with Aristotle and ends with the “Faustian Pact of Capitalism,” Günter Gentsch traces the history of leisure, and Jens Grandt explains how and why a group of polar explorers are so divided that they don’t even know each other wish you more a good morning.

The review section should not go unmentioned. It is to be appreciated that publications from small and medium-sized publishers in particular are discussed. The reviews are competently written, and it turns out that the literature, which is traded “subliminally” or not at all on the market, is in no way inferior to that of prominent publishers.

»Signum. Journal for Literature and Criticism”, issue 1/2024, 8.20 euros. Available via: mnweiss@t-online.de
www.zeitschrift-signum.de

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