Jurij Brezan
Biography
Jurij Brezan was born in 1916 in Räckelwitz. He grew up speaking Sorbian and learned German from various neighbors. As a Sorbian he was anti-Nazi and was part of a resistance group. After the war, his country became part of the German Democratic Republic. After initial repression, the Sorbians were tolerated by the State. He became a full-time writer at that time. Though he has created many characters, he may best be known for his use of the legendary Sorbian, Krabat, who was believed to have magical powers and who helped the oppressed. He died in 2006.
Other links
Jurij Brezan
Interview
Jurij Brezan (in German)
His own website (in German and Sorbian)
Bibliography
951 Auf dem Rain wächst Korn
1953 52 Wochen sind ein Jahr (novel)
1953 Hochzeitsreise in die Heimat
1955 Befreite Freundschaft: Reiseskizzen aus der Tschechoslowak. Republik (travel)
1957 Christa (story)
1957 Das Haus an der Grenze (story)
1958 Der Gymnasiast (novel)
1959 Borbas und die Rute Gottes (story)
1959 Das Mädchen Trix und der Ochse Esau (children’s)
1960 Semester der verlorenen Zeit (The Fallow Years) (novel)
1962 Eine Liebesgeschichte
1964 Mannesjahre (novel)
1964 Der Elefant und die Pilze (children’s)
1966 Reise nach Krakau (story)
1967 Die Abenteuer des Kater Mikosch (children’s)
1968 Die Schwarze Mühle (story)
1970 Der Mäuseturm oder Beschreibung eines Dichters
1974 Die schwarze Mühle (story)
1976 Krabat oder Die Verwandlung der Welt [Krabat or the Transformation of the World] (novel)
1976 Ansichten und Einsichten aus dem literarischen Werkstatt
1977 Die Rattenschlacht und andere Geschichten (stories)
1979 Der Brautschmuck (stories)
1981 Herkunft und Standort: Aussagen
1983 Bild des Vaters (novel)
1985 Dalmat hat Ferien (children’s)
1986 Wie das Lachen auf die Welt kam (story)
1986 Einsichten und Ansichten
1988 Geschichten vom Wasser (stories)
1989 Mein Stück Zeit (autobiography)
1991 Bruder Baum und Schwester Lärche
1991 Das wunderschöne blaue Pferd
1993 Krabat oder Die Bewahrung der Welt (novel)
1994 Rifko aus dem Tagebuch eines Dackels (children’s)
1997 Die Leute von Salow (novel)
1999 Ohne Pass und Zoll (autobiography)
2001 Die grüne Eidechse (novel)
2001 Hunds Tagebuch (story)
2003 Die Einladung (story)
2006 Die Jungfrau, die nicht ins Bett wollte (fable)
2006 Der alte Mann und das enge Weite (story)
Note that Brezan wrote his works in both Sorbian and German. Only German editions are given here. For details of the Sorbian versions see his own website