Johann Nestroy

Pamela S. Saur (Lamar University)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.2: German-language Writing and Culture: Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, 800-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

Born 7 Dec 1801
Died 25 May 1862
Activity 1822-1860

Places

Born in Austria
Active in Austria; Netherlands

Activities

Primary

Playwright / Dramatist
Theatre actor

Resources

Nestroy's Works

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Johann Nepomuk Nestroy, known as the “Aristophanes of Vienna” and even the “Viennese Shakespeare”, began his theatrical career as a singer before acting in hundreds of roles both in Vienna and on stages across Europe. His plays were rooted in the theatrical traditions of folk comedy, Baroque opera, and Italian

commedia dell'arte,

and he borrowed plots from German, French and English texts. Beginning with routine plots, he often added unique characters, linguistic creativity, and social, political, even philosophical insights, as well as musical accompaniment composed by Adolf Müller. Nestroy wrote over eighty plays, although his heavy borrowing from other sources earns many of them the label “adaptation”. Nestroy's comedies are entertaining and witty; he excelled in all types…

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1740 words

Citation: Saur, Pamela S.. "Johann Nestroy". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 July 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5947, accessed 23 November 2024.]

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