Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1933-2016 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
100 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Wolfgang Held (1933-2016) was a writer, translator, artist and musician, and a key figure in Anglo-German literary relations.
Born in Frieburg, Germany, in 1933. Educated in Karlsruhe, Heidelberg and Freiburg. Completed a PhD on the Austrian poet, Georg Trakl, and subsequently spent four years at the University of Madras. Taught at the University of Ljubljana, in the former Yugoslavia, in the 1960s. Moved to Edinburgh (by 1971) and then to Greenwich University. Retired in 1985, to focus on his own writing.
His translation work includes German translations of Wyndham Lewis, T.S. Eliot, Samuel Beckett, Michael Holroyd's biography on George Bernhard Shaw and the poetry of John Donne and Emily Brontë.
His novels include Die im Glashaus (Those in Glass Houses, 1965), Ein Brief des Jüngeren Plinius (A Letter from Pliny the Younger, 1979), Rabenkind (Raven Child, 1985), Geschichte der Abgeschnittenen Hand (Tale of the Severed Hand, 1994), Traum vom Hungerturm (Dream of the Hunger Tower, 2007) and Schattenfabel (Shadow Tale, 2014). He also wrote a play, Hoffmanns Verbrennung (Hoffmann’s Burning, 1986).
As a pianist Held gave concerts and made recordings and commentaries for German radio. He also published a biography of Robert and Clara Schumann, Manches Geht in Nacht Verloren (Things Go Astray in the Night, 1998), republished as Geliebte Clara (Beloved Clara, 2008).
Held was also a collagist and hosted the Raven Studio in his London home from 1989-1992, exhibiting works by other contemporary artists.
His first wife was Eva (nee Hellmansberger). The pair later divorced. Married his second wife Madeline in 1971, with whom he had a daughter, Natasha.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0370 WH 1933-2016 Collection (fonds) 100 boxes Held , Wolfgang , 1933-2016 , writer and translator
Wolfgang Held (1933-2016) was a writer, translator, artist and musician, and a key figure in Anglo-German literary relations.
Born in Frieburg, Germany, in 1933. Educated in Karlsruhe, Heidelberg and Freiburg. Completed a PhD on the Austrian poet, Georg Trakl, and subsequently spent four years at the University of Madras. Taught at the University of Ljubljana, in the former Yugoslavia, in the 1960s. Moved to Edinburgh (by 1971) and then to Greenwich University. Retired in 1985, to focus on his own writing.
His translation work includes German translations of Wyndham Lewis, T.S. Eliot, Samuel Beckett, Michael Holroyd's biography on George Bernhard Shaw and the poetry of John Donne and Emily Brontë.
His novels include Die im Glashaus (Those in Glass Houses, 1965), Ein Brief des Jüngeren Plinius (A Letter from Pliny the Younger, 1979), Rabenkind (Raven Child, 1985), Geschichte der Abgeschnittenen Hand (Tale of the Severed Hand, 1994), Traum vom Hungerturm (Dream of the Hunger Tower, 2007) and Schattenfabel (Shadow Tale, 2014). He also wrote a play, Hoffmanns Verbrennung (Hoffmann’s Burning, 1986).
As a pianist Held gave concerts and made recordings and commentaries for German radio. He also published a biography of Robert and Clara Schumann, Manches Geht in Nacht Verloren (Things Go Astray in the Night, 1998), republished as Geliebte Clara (Beloved Clara, 2008).
Held was also a collagist and hosted the Raven Studio in his London home from 1989-1992, exhibiting works by other contemporary artists.
His first wife was Eva (nee Hellmansberger). The pair later divorced. Married his second wife Madeline in 1971, with whom he had a daughter, Natasha.
90 boxes were transferred as a gift from the Wolfgang Held Estate to Queen Mary in November 2017. 10 further boxes were transferred in September 2018.
Papers of writer, translator, artist and musician Wolfgang Held (1933-2016).
Contains personal papers including material relating to Held’s time at school and university, diaries, letters, photographs, slides, magazines, medals, an astrology chart, letters of condolence and address books.
Family papers relating to his father Fritz Held and his ancestry, as well as family photographs, school books, certificates and related documents.
Work papers including notebooks, working notes and texts, research material, unpublished writing, published prose, papers relating to published works, poetry and poetry translations, papers relating to Raven Studio, prizes and awards, files of notes and notebooks relating to his translation work, radio commentaries and piano recitals.
Audio recordings (compact discs and cassette tapes) of Held's literary works and piano recitals for German radio stations.
Not yet determined.
Apply to Archivist. The Archives are available for access in the Archives Reading Room located on the 2nd Floor of the Mile End Library. The Archives Reading Room is open Mondays to Fridays 9am-4pm by appointment only. Contact the Archives for more information: Archives, Main Library QMUL, 328 Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 3873, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk. For more information about the Archives see the website: www.library.qmul.ac.uk/archives.
Copyright of the personal papers has been transferred to Queen Mary, with the exception of copyright of original artwork and unpublished works which is retained by the Wolfgang Held Estate. Applications for copies for research or publication should be made to the Archivist: Main Library QMUL, 328 Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 7873, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk.
English, German.
Online. A detailed handlist is also available for part of the collection. Please contact the archives for more information.
A series of Held's published works were donated with the archive and are catalogued on the QMUL Library catalogue at: https://www.library.qmul.ac.uk.
March 2019. Europe Germany Held , Wolfgang , 1933-2016 , writer and translator
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
90 boxes were transferred as a gift from the Wolfgang Held Estate to Queen Mary in November 2017. 10 further boxes were transferred in September 2018.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of writer, translator, artist and musician Wolfgang Held (1933-2016).
Contains personal papers including material relating to Held’s time at school and university, diaries, letters, photographs, slides, magazines, medals, an astrology chart, letters of condolence and address books.
Family papers relating to his father Fritz Held and his ancestry, as well as family photographs, school books, certificates and related documents.
Work papers including notebooks, working notes and texts, research material, unpublished writing, published prose, papers relating to published works, poetry and poetry translations, papers relating to Raven Studio, prizes and awards, files of notes and notebooks relating to his translation work, radio commentaries and piano recitals.
Audio recordings (compact discs and cassette tapes) of Held's literary works and piano recitals for German radio stations.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Not yet determined.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Apply to Archivist. The Archives are available for access in the Archives Reading Room located on the 2nd Floor of the Mile End Library. The Archives Reading Room is open Mondays to Fridays 9am-4pm by appointment only. Contact the Archives for more information: Archives, Main Library QMUL, 328 Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 3873, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk. For more information about the Archives see the website: www.library.qmul.ac.uk/archives.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright of the personal papers has been transferred to Queen Mary, with the exception of copyright of original artwork and unpublished works which is retained by the Wolfgang Held Estate. Applications for copies for research or publication should be made to the Archivist: Main Library QMUL, 328 Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 7873, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English, German.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
A series of Held's published works were donated with the archive and are catalogued on the QMUL Library catalogue at: https://www.library.qmul.ac.uk.
Finding aids
Online. A detailed handlist is also available for part of the collection. Please contact the archives for more information.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English