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Malevolent Muse: The Life of Alma Mahler
Of all the colorful figures on the twentieth-century European cultural scene, hardly anyone has provoked more polarity than Alma Schindler Mahler Gropius Werfel (1879–1964), mistress to a long succession of brilliant men and wife of three of the best known: composer Gustav Mahler, architect Walter Gropius and writer Franz Werfel. To her admirers Alma was a self-sacrificing socialite who inspired many great artists. Her detractors found her a self-aggrandizing social climber and an alcoholic, bigoted, vengeful harlot—as one contemporary put it, “a cross between a grande dame and a cesspool.”
So who was she really? When historian Oliver Hilmes discovered a treasure-trove of unpublished material, much of it in Alma’s own words, he used it as the basis for his first biography, setting the record straight while evoking the atmosphere of intellectual life in Europe and then in émigré communities on both coasts of the United States after the Nazi takeover of their home territories. First published in German in 2004, the book was hailed as a rare combination of meticulously researched scholarship and entertaining writing, making it a runaway bestseller and advancing Oliver Hilmes to his position as a household name in contemporary literature.
Alma Mahler was one of the twentieth century’s rare originals, worthy of her immortalization in song. Oliver Hilmes has provided us with an even-handed yet tantalizingly detailed account of her life, bringing Alma’s singular story to a whole new audience.
So who was she really? When historian Oliver Hilmes discovered a treasure-trove of unpublished material, much of it in Alma’s own words, he used it as the basis for his first biography, setting the record straight while evoking the atmosphere of intellectual life in Europe and then in émigré communities on both coasts of the United States after the Nazi takeover of their home territories. First published in German in 2004, the book was hailed as a rare combination of meticulously researched scholarship and entertaining writing, making it a runaway bestseller and advancing Oliver Hilmes to his position as a household name in contemporary literature.
Alma Mahler was one of the twentieth century’s rare originals, worthy of her immortalization in song. Oliver Hilmes has provided us with an even-handed yet tantalizingly detailed account of her life, bringing Alma’s singular story to a whole new audience.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
19 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 23, 2018
Dies ist eine Biographie, die mir außerordentlich gut gefiel und ich sie nur als gelungen bezeichnen kann. Die Lebensgeschichte der Mahler-Werfel ist kurzweilig vorgetragen. Sie ist gut recherchiert, kritisch beleuchtet und verständlich vom damaligen Zeitgeist umrahmt.
Allerdings die Dame selbst verstand mich nie zu überzeugen. In meinen Augen war sie ein eitles, launisches, selbstgerechtes, berechnendes und vor allem bis zur Übelkeit erregendes antisemitisches Frauenzimmer gewesen, die gesellschaftlich wie menschlich nichts Erwähnenswertes zustande brachte, sich dennoch für etwas Großes hielt und leider auch ihr Publikum fand. - Charakterliche Größe und Geschmack bewiesen allein die Herren, die ihr widerstanden und sich dadurch ihren intriganten Groll zuzogen.
Allerdings die Dame selbst verstand mich nie zu überzeugen. In meinen Augen war sie ein eitles, launisches, selbstgerechtes, berechnendes und vor allem bis zur Übelkeit erregendes antisemitisches Frauenzimmer gewesen, die gesellschaftlich wie menschlich nichts Erwähnenswertes zustande brachte, sich dennoch für etwas Großes hielt und leider auch ihr Publikum fand. - Charakterliche Größe und Geschmack bewiesen allein die Herren, die ihr widerstanden und sich dadurch ihren intriganten Groll zuzogen.
July 2, 2015
Born in 1879 and living until 1964, Alma Schindler Mahler Gropius Werfel lived a long life. She lived through two world wars, outlasted two husbands (Mahler and Werfel), divorced another one (Gropius), was constantly unfaithful, drank too much, was a virulent anti-Semite despite marrying two Jewish men and having affairs with many more, was emotionally abusive to pretty much every one around her- especially her husbands, lovers, and children-, thought Hitler had kind eyes, was self-deluded and self-aggrandizing, was a great fan of the arts, and was greedy. Yet men of genius flocked to her. Painters, writers, composers, architects, sculptors, conductors, politicians, and more all became lovers or friends. And to be either of those things, you had to be a vocal admirer. Any criticism of her and she was an enemy. So what did this woman have that other women didn’t? I confess that I am no closer to understanding that I was before reading the book.
She was physically attractive, but not exceptionally so. She knew how to decorate a house and to throw a party. She had composed a few songs described as ‘slight’ before meeting Mahler, who put an end to her composing Apparently she must have been a good conversationalist, to have interested so many people. A number of her lovers remained attracted to her long after their affairs were over- was she that good in bed?
Was she a muse? Mahler, Gropius and Werfel were all pretty well along in their careers when she met them, so they didn’t need to her create. Werfel wrote a large number of plays and books after becoming Alma’s husband, but part of that is because she demanded that he support her in the style to which she was accustomed. To do most of his writing, he most often fled to another city until he was finished with the project- those long separations may possibly be why their marriage lasted so long.
It’s a mystery. I was rather revolted by the picture of Alma that emerged from the book. Hilmes’s research is impeccable; he waded through boxes of correspondence and diaries. Alma kept a rather thorough record of her life and relationships, although she self-censored it at some point. That she destroyed some diaries and letters is probably a good thing; as it was, her memoir, ‘En Leben’ was so full of sex that it was sold from under bookstore counters like pornography (bearing in mind that this was 1959). Her story is interesting-Alma and Werfel’s escape from Europe as Hitler’s armies took over was enough to make me hold my breath- but most of the book moves very slowly. Because of her character, I can’t say I really enjoyed the book. Just as I thought she couldn’t get any worse, she’d do or say something unforgivable. And yet, so many in her life forgave her constantly.
She was physically attractive, but not exceptionally so. She knew how to decorate a house and to throw a party. She had composed a few songs described as ‘slight’ before meeting Mahler, who put an end to her composing Apparently she must have been a good conversationalist, to have interested so many people. A number of her lovers remained attracted to her long after their affairs were over- was she that good in bed?
Was she a muse? Mahler, Gropius and Werfel were all pretty well along in their careers when she met them, so they didn’t need to her create. Werfel wrote a large number of plays and books after becoming Alma’s husband, but part of that is because she demanded that he support her in the style to which she was accustomed. To do most of his writing, he most often fled to another city until he was finished with the project- those long separations may possibly be why their marriage lasted so long.
It’s a mystery. I was rather revolted by the picture of Alma that emerged from the book. Hilmes’s research is impeccable; he waded through boxes of correspondence and diaries. Alma kept a rather thorough record of her life and relationships, although she self-censored it at some point. That she destroyed some diaries and letters is probably a good thing; as it was, her memoir, ‘En Leben’ was so full of sex that it was sold from under bookstore counters like pornography (bearing in mind that this was 1959). Her story is interesting-Alma and Werfel’s escape from Europe as Hitler’s armies took over was enough to make me hold my breath- but most of the book moves very slowly. Because of her character, I can’t say I really enjoyed the book. Just as I thought she couldn’t get any worse, she’d do or say something unforgivable. And yet, so many in her life forgave her constantly.
September 15, 2018
5 stars because I was particularly interested in this place and period in history.
April 5, 2025
“Alma: […] ich glaube, daß man nicht Dir zu diesem Leben, sondern dem Leben zu Dir gratulieren müßte.” (F. Torberg)
Alma Mahler-Werfel was a fascinating, complex, and impressive, yet certainly unlikable and - not only from today’s perspective - quite problematic Grande Dame of the 20th century. The author’s historical source work is worthwhile, but would have profited from far less attempted psychoanalytical exegesis. As the title already suggests some parts of the book come with a sexist flavor.
Alma Mahler-Werfel was a fascinating, complex, and impressive, yet certainly unlikable and - not only from today’s perspective - quite problematic Grande Dame of the 20th century. The author’s historical source work is worthwhile, but would have profited from far less attempted psychoanalytical exegesis. As the title already suggests some parts of the book come with a sexist flavor.
May 18, 2015
There is no doubt that Alma Mahler indeed led a dramatic life. Not only was she married to the composer, Gustav Mahler, the architect, Walter Gropius, and the author, Franz Werfel, but she had affairs and flirtations with numerous men, many of some distinction. Everywhere she turned, she rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous. The list of those her life intersected with is quite mind boggling.
However, she was a deeply troubled woman who had severe problems in her relationships with not only the many men in her life but also her family and children. She would fluctuate, sometimes on a daily basis, from loving someone to hating them. The fascination of this book lies in that dichotomy. There are many quotes throughout the book in her own words taken directly from her diaries. And those words could often be so callous as to be truly shocking. Those who met her were either bewitched by her or repulsed by her.
The author has done a wonderful job of putting this book together and attempting to work out exactly who this colorful personage was. The research done was meticulous and he’s written a very interesting book. Not only are you treated to reading about a fascinating life, but you also will have much insight into the lives of Mahler and Werfel and the intellectual scene of that time. I’m glad I read the hardcover edition of this book rather than a digital version since it’s full of interesting photos that wouldn’t have shown up well on my e-reader. The book itself is beautifully bound.
While you may not end up having much admiration for parts of Alma Mahler’s life, the fact that she created such a legend in her own lifetime is a masterpiece in itself.
I won a copy of this book on LibraryThings with the understanding that I would give an honest review.
However, she was a deeply troubled woman who had severe problems in her relationships with not only the many men in her life but also her family and children. She would fluctuate, sometimes on a daily basis, from loving someone to hating them. The fascination of this book lies in that dichotomy. There are many quotes throughout the book in her own words taken directly from her diaries. And those words could often be so callous as to be truly shocking. Those who met her were either bewitched by her or repulsed by her.
The author has done a wonderful job of putting this book together and attempting to work out exactly who this colorful personage was. The research done was meticulous and he’s written a very interesting book. Not only are you treated to reading about a fascinating life, but you also will have much insight into the lives of Mahler and Werfel and the intellectual scene of that time. I’m glad I read the hardcover edition of this book rather than a digital version since it’s full of interesting photos that wouldn’t have shown up well on my e-reader. The book itself is beautifully bound.
While you may not end up having much admiration for parts of Alma Mahler’s life, the fact that she created such a legend in her own lifetime is a masterpiece in itself.
I won a copy of this book on LibraryThings with the understanding that I would give an honest review.
February 7, 2016
Hilmes' biography should probably not be one's starting place to get to know Alma Mahler Werfel (as it was mine). While his primary research bona fides are compelling - he goes to great pains to describe just how much time and effort he expended with Alma's previously-unmined papers and other effects at the University of Pennsylvania - his actual portrait of his subject falls flat.
It's not because Hilmes paints Alma as a vapid, narcissistic, casually anti-Semitic, and essentially despicable person - she probably was - but rather that he gives almost no indication what this jaw-dropping succession of truly great artists saw in her as a companion. Why did Klimt, Mahler, Zemlinsky, Kokoschka, Gropius, Werfel, and so many others fall so hard for her? Hilmes barely hints at it.
Hilmes is very concerned about getting to the truth of Alma's influence on Werfel's rumored(?) deathbed conversion to Catholicism. It was difficult for me to follow the twists and turns, or even understand why this particular event merited such attention, but I think Hilmes concludes there's not evidence to substantiate whether the conversion occurred or not. (Perhaps the frequent but generally overlookable lapses in translation made it harder to grasp?)
I did enjoy the small portraits of Austro-Germanic émigré domestic life in Los Angeles - it's somehow charming to see Schoenberg, Thomas Mann, Bruno Walter, Korngold, and others complaining about the food at each other's homes. And there's some Schadenfreude in seeing Alma hocking rare Bruckner scores and the like. But on the whole Hilmes' biography is likely better at rounding out a picture of his subject than providing the basis for one. He unfortunately leaves it to other biographers to describe how Alma Mahler compelled so many great men to spend so much time with her.
It's not because Hilmes paints Alma as a vapid, narcissistic, casually anti-Semitic, and essentially despicable person - she probably was - but rather that he gives almost no indication what this jaw-dropping succession of truly great artists saw in her as a companion. Why did Klimt, Mahler, Zemlinsky, Kokoschka, Gropius, Werfel, and so many others fall so hard for her? Hilmes barely hints at it.
Hilmes is very concerned about getting to the truth of Alma's influence on Werfel's rumored(?) deathbed conversion to Catholicism. It was difficult for me to follow the twists and turns, or even understand why this particular event merited such attention, but I think Hilmes concludes there's not evidence to substantiate whether the conversion occurred or not. (Perhaps the frequent but generally overlookable lapses in translation made it harder to grasp?)
I did enjoy the small portraits of Austro-Germanic émigré domestic life in Los Angeles - it's somehow charming to see Schoenberg, Thomas Mann, Bruno Walter, Korngold, and others complaining about the food at each other's homes. And there's some Schadenfreude in seeing Alma hocking rare Bruckner scores and the like. But on the whole Hilmes' biography is likely better at rounding out a picture of his subject than providing the basis for one. He unfortunately leaves it to other biographers to describe how Alma Mahler compelled so many great men to spend so much time with her.
September 2, 2019
The reason I requested this book, a biography of Alma Mahler was the description of her in the overview. Specifically "Her detractors saw her as a self aggrandizing social climber, a boozy, bigoted, vengeful harlot - or as one contemporary put it, "She was a grande dame and at the same time a cesspool." To put it mildly she was all those things and then some. The author did a really excellent job in his research of this narcissistic spoiled woman. I cannot see how anyone in their right mind would find her attractive as she was really not that physically attractive and had such a unearned over inflated opinion of herself. Her level of antisemitism was astounding and yet she managed to attract two Jewish husbands whom she tortured with her unfaithfulness and vile attitude. It has been said she was attracted to, and attracted genius's, but the 'genius's' she had relationships with were say to put it mildly, weirdos, especially the artist Kokoschka. Frankly if she had not had money she would have been nothing. I think if she were a modern woman of today she would have turned out to be a corporate raider, or some kind of female version of Bernie Madoff (and probably in prison). The only thing it seems that Alma Mahler seems to have accomplished in life was the act of torturing and hurting others while always playing the victim. Despite her disgusting character I found the book interesting and I came away with a better understanding of early nineteenth century Europe and the life style of the times. Recommended.
May 18, 2018
Na de hagiografische autobiografie van Alma Mahler en een vijftal grotendeels daarop gebaseerde biografieën heeft Oliver Hilmes eindelijk de definitieve biografie van Alma Mahler-Gropius-Werfel geschreven, waarvoor hij als eerste kon beschikken over de originele dagboeknotities van deze 'Circe van Wenen' die zowat de hele Weense kunstwereld van de eerste helft van de 20e eeuw in haar slaapkamer ontvangen heeft, inclusief Klimt en Kokoschka.
Wat me vooral trof, was haar uitgesproken antisemitisme, terwijl ze zich tegelijk vooral door joden aangetrokken voelde. Ze bewonderde Hitler, maar moest Oostenrijk ontvluchten vanwege haar joodse (derde) echtgenoot de schrijver Franz Werfel. De grote sier die ze maakte, de waanzinnige feesten die ze gaf, het geld waar ze mee smeet en de drank die ze naar binnen goot, maken haar onvergetelijk als dé cultfiguur van de 20e eeuw.
Een van haar bizarste veroveringen was de priester Johannes Hollnsteiner. Toen ze hem na een onstuimige nacht vroeg hoe dat eigenlijk zat met het celibaat, antwoordde die heel serieus: 'De gelofte van kuisheid geldt alleen maar zolang je je toga aanhebt'. Ik kreeg een lachstuip toen ik dit las.
Of je nu vooral van biografieën houdt of van kunst of van geschiedenis, je krijgt het hier allemaal in een zeer leesbaar en aan te raden boek.
Wat me vooral trof, was haar uitgesproken antisemitisme, terwijl ze zich tegelijk vooral door joden aangetrokken voelde. Ze bewonderde Hitler, maar moest Oostenrijk ontvluchten vanwege haar joodse (derde) echtgenoot de schrijver Franz Werfel. De grote sier die ze maakte, de waanzinnige feesten die ze gaf, het geld waar ze mee smeet en de drank die ze naar binnen goot, maken haar onvergetelijk als dé cultfiguur van de 20e eeuw.
Een van haar bizarste veroveringen was de priester Johannes Hollnsteiner. Toen ze hem na een onstuimige nacht vroeg hoe dat eigenlijk zat met het celibaat, antwoordde die heel serieus: 'De gelofte van kuisheid geldt alleen maar zolang je je toga aanhebt'. Ik kreeg een lachstuip toen ik dit las.
Of je nu vooral van biografieën houdt of van kunst of van geschiedenis, je krijgt het hier allemaal in een zeer leesbaar en aan te raden boek.
November 17, 2015
This is the biography of Alma Mahler a woman who had long term relationships with many in the artistic community in Europe in the early 1900's including Gustave Mahler (composer) and Franz Werfel (author) among many others. So, was she really an inspiring muse which she portrayed herself during her life or was she merely a woman who used her sexuality to latch onto a number of talented men. The author's summary indicates he favors the second option. This is a well researched book that would appeal to a narrow audience.
August 24, 2015
A fascinating book on a fascinating (and rather unpleasant) woman.
The only drawback (that might just be an issue in the Swedish edition, which is the one I've read) is that there is no index, which I really missed, and which might have been a help, considering the number of people that came and went in this rather special woman's life.
The only drawback (that might just be an issue in the Swedish edition, which is the one I've read) is that there is no index, which I really missed, and which might have been a help, considering the number of people that came and went in this rather special woman's life.
June 22, 2025
Zeer zorgvuldig, nauwgezet en integer werkt Hilmes na het eerste hoofdstuk de hypothese uit dat bij Alma Mahler sprake zou kunnen zijn van een hysterische persoonlijkheidsstoornis.
‘Alma als hysterica? Mag je op een mens - en dan ook nog postuum- zo’n stempel drukken? En wat win je eigenlijk door iemand zo’n psychiatrisch etiket op te plakken?Nadat ik me jarenlang door tienduizenden bladzijden van en over Alma Mahler-Werfel had gewordteld en het basispatroon van haar leven wilde begrijpen, dat wil zeggen onder woorden wilde brengen, heb ik in de gevalsbeschrijvingen en de theoretische werken van onderzoekers die zich met de hysterie hebben beziggehouden, variërend van Vharcot to Freud, Bräutigam, Mentzos en Christina von Braun, de bevredigendste verklaring gevonden voor het verwarrende, tegenstrijdige, afstotelijke, maar ook voor het imponerende, voor de kracht en ook het lijden van deze vrouw’.
Hij noemt de tegenargumenten, ‘… werd het me meteen duidelijk dat ‘conflicten verdringen en deze geheel van het bewustzijn afsplitsen’ nu juist niét behoorde tot haar strategie om het leven aan te kunnen. Op talloze plaatsen verbaas je je over haar heldere visie en de nietsontziende wijze waarop zij zichzelf beoordeelt. Daarin getuigt ze juist van een uitgesproken robuuste psychische gezondheid’.
Maar ze wilde aanbeden worden. ‘Wat Alma zo onweerstaanbaar wist over te brengen, was haar vermogen tot spiegeling. Met grote virtuositeit wist ze zich met haar tegenspeler te identificeren. Alma begreep snel wat een man wilde zijn en kon hem laten geloven dat hij juist dát was.
Ook duidt Hilmes treffend wat waarschijnlijk ten grondslag ligt aan Alma’s neurotische constitutie, die zou terug te voeren zijn op de bijzonder nauwe band met haar vader. In het bewustzijn dat zijn vrouw hem bedroog heeft Emil Schindler zich vastgeklampt aan zijn oudste dochter. Zo werd Alma een vervangster van haar ontrouwe moeder, hoewel ze natuurlijk volstrekt niet in staat was die plaats in te nemen. Deze druk om veel te vroeg iets te moeten zijn wat ze helemaal niet zijn kon heeft mogelijk een gevoel van innerlijke leegte, betekenisloosheid en ongenoegen doen ontstaan, dat Alma in de vorm van hysterie heeft gepoogd te compenseren.
‘En zoals zo vaak voelde ze zich leeg en zonder waarde. “Ik verlang naar een of andere sterke ervaring”, klaagde ze begin april’
En elders: ‘Ik ben weinig in zijn leven en weinig in het mijne’
Hoe eindig je zo’n boek, behalve met zo’n 50 pgn noten en bronnen? Hoe vat je zo’n leven, gedreven door neurotische conflicten samen. Hilmes zoekt een positieve oplossing waarmee hij haar recht probeert te doen en hij geeft het laatste woord aan Friedrich Torberg, een vriend die, verlegen met een situatie, Alma ooit zei: Alma, jij bent de beste partner die het leven ooit heeft gehad, en ik geloof dat we niet jou met dit leven, maar het leven met jou moeten gelukwensen.
Bij mij blijft hangen het beeld van een getalenteerde maar eenzame vrouw die wanhopig haar leven lang probeerde haar angst en leegte de baas te blijven en te compenseren. De enige man van wie zij waarschijnlijk ooit echt heeft gehouden en door wie zij zich echt gezien heeft gevoeld was haar vader. Zijn foto, en niet de hare, hing boven haar kist.
‘Alma als hysterica? Mag je op een mens - en dan ook nog postuum- zo’n stempel drukken? En wat win je eigenlijk door iemand zo’n psychiatrisch etiket op te plakken?Nadat ik me jarenlang door tienduizenden bladzijden van en over Alma Mahler-Werfel had gewordteld en het basispatroon van haar leven wilde begrijpen, dat wil zeggen onder woorden wilde brengen, heb ik in de gevalsbeschrijvingen en de theoretische werken van onderzoekers die zich met de hysterie hebben beziggehouden, variërend van Vharcot to Freud, Bräutigam, Mentzos en Christina von Braun, de bevredigendste verklaring gevonden voor het verwarrende, tegenstrijdige, afstotelijke, maar ook voor het imponerende, voor de kracht en ook het lijden van deze vrouw’.
Hij noemt de tegenargumenten, ‘… werd het me meteen duidelijk dat ‘conflicten verdringen en deze geheel van het bewustzijn afsplitsen’ nu juist niét behoorde tot haar strategie om het leven aan te kunnen. Op talloze plaatsen verbaas je je over haar heldere visie en de nietsontziende wijze waarop zij zichzelf beoordeelt. Daarin getuigt ze juist van een uitgesproken robuuste psychische gezondheid’.
Maar ze wilde aanbeden worden. ‘Wat Alma zo onweerstaanbaar wist over te brengen, was haar vermogen tot spiegeling. Met grote virtuositeit wist ze zich met haar tegenspeler te identificeren. Alma begreep snel wat een man wilde zijn en kon hem laten geloven dat hij juist dát was.
Ook duidt Hilmes treffend wat waarschijnlijk ten grondslag ligt aan Alma’s neurotische constitutie, die zou terug te voeren zijn op de bijzonder nauwe band met haar vader. In het bewustzijn dat zijn vrouw hem bedroog heeft Emil Schindler zich vastgeklampt aan zijn oudste dochter. Zo werd Alma een vervangster van haar ontrouwe moeder, hoewel ze natuurlijk volstrekt niet in staat was die plaats in te nemen. Deze druk om veel te vroeg iets te moeten zijn wat ze helemaal niet zijn kon heeft mogelijk een gevoel van innerlijke leegte, betekenisloosheid en ongenoegen doen ontstaan, dat Alma in de vorm van hysterie heeft gepoogd te compenseren.
‘En zoals zo vaak voelde ze zich leeg en zonder waarde. “Ik verlang naar een of andere sterke ervaring”, klaagde ze begin april’
En elders: ‘Ik ben weinig in zijn leven en weinig in het mijne’
Hoe eindig je zo’n boek, behalve met zo’n 50 pgn noten en bronnen? Hoe vat je zo’n leven, gedreven door neurotische conflicten samen. Hilmes zoekt een positieve oplossing waarmee hij haar recht probeert te doen en hij geeft het laatste woord aan Friedrich Torberg, een vriend die, verlegen met een situatie, Alma ooit zei: Alma, jij bent de beste partner die het leven ooit heeft gehad, en ik geloof dat we niet jou met dit leven, maar het leven met jou moeten gelukwensen.
Bij mij blijft hangen het beeld van een getalenteerde maar eenzame vrouw die wanhopig haar leven lang probeerde haar angst en leegte de baas te blijven en te compenseren. De enige man van wie zij waarschijnlijk ooit echt heeft gehouden en door wie zij zich echt gezien heeft gevoeld was haar vader. Zijn foto, en niet de hare, hing boven haar kist.
December 20, 2017
Alma Mahler-Werfel (1879-1964) är kanske det 20:e århundradets mest spännande kvinna. Å ena sidan vacker, intelligent och gift med tre av seklets största konstnärer: Gustav Mahler, Walter Gropius och Franz Werfel. Å andra sidan hämndlysten, djupt alkoholiserad och närmast besatt av det sexuella. Den långa raden av älskare rymmer bl. a. den store expressionisten Oskar Kokoschka. "En riktig dam, och samtidigt en kloak", som en väninna en gång sade om henne. I sin lysande biografi har Oliver Hilmes inte bara lyckats gestalta en stridbar och omstridd kvinna utan också fångat en svunnen epoks kulturliv och dess centralfigurer.
Min recension: En välskriven och underhållande biografi på 405 sidor. Alma föddes in i en konstnärsfamilj i Wien och förblev bosatt där till andra världskrigets utbrott. Det var speciellt intressant att läsa om de politiska stämningarna där. Galen var hon inte.
Min recension: En välskriven och underhållande biografi på 405 sidor. Alma föddes in i en konstnärsfamilj i Wien och förblev bosatt där till andra världskrigets utbrott. Det var speciellt intressant att läsa om de politiska stämningarna där. Galen var hon inte.
May 29, 2020
Fantastic original research, well-written book, and it seems to be well-translated. My problem is that I'm just not convinced that this narcissistic woman is worth learning this much about. A disappointingly small proportion of the book deals with her years with Gustav Mahler, which I admit was all I cared about. But the book does clear up decades of misperceptions about that marriage, misperceptions deliberately propagated by Alma herself to enhance her image and disparage Mahler's, so I'm glad the painstaking research was done and the book was published. Would love to be able to rate it 3.5 stars.
October 28, 2023
Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass ich eine 400-seitige Biografie wirklich spannend genug finden würde um sie bis zum Ende zu lesen und war wirklich positiv überrascht.
Alma Mahler-Werfel hatte sicher ein bewegtes und interessantes Leben. Und weil sich ihre Wege mit so vielen berühmten Persönlichkeiten kreuzten, ist ihre Biografie gleichzeitig Zeitgeschichte.
Man bekommt einen guten Eindruck der Künstlerszene im deutschsprachigen Raum in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts und kann geschichtliche Ereignisse mit persönlichen Schicksalen verbinden.
Alma Mahler-Werfel hatte sicher ein bewegtes und interessantes Leben. Und weil sich ihre Wege mit so vielen berühmten Persönlichkeiten kreuzten, ist ihre Biografie gleichzeitig Zeitgeschichte.
Man bekommt einen guten Eindruck der Künstlerszene im deutschsprachigen Raum in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts und kann geschichtliche Ereignisse mit persönlichen Schicksalen verbinden.
June 15, 2019
Eine widerliche Person, schon wegen ihres Antisemitismus, trotzdem ein sehr interessantes und spannendes Buch 👍
March 10, 2024
Fantastic biography, well written and extremely well researched. But the subject of the biography leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
October 4, 2023
Oh boy--where to start. It was a decent biography given that it's a man writing about a woman. There's still some misogyny hiding in there from time to time, but it's less than the average. (I've read too many books written by men about women, especially in classical music.)
The writing is a bit dry at times, especially given how wild Alma herself is. The subject matter is definitely more interesting than the delivery of it.
All said and done, I don't think the biography condemns her enough. Her racism, raging antisemitism, and general meanness come through in her actions and letters. Sometimes the biography glosses over them, and it's...shocking, to say the least.
If we get another Alma Mahler biography, I'll only be interested in reading it if it's written by a Jewish woman because I think other biographers really don't capture Alma's full character in their writing.
The writing is a bit dry at times, especially given how wild Alma herself is. The subject matter is definitely more interesting than the delivery of it.
All said and done, I don't think the biography condemns her enough. Her racism, raging antisemitism, and general meanness come through in her actions and letters. Sometimes the biography glosses over them, and it's...shocking, to say the least.
If we get another Alma Mahler biography, I'll only be interested in reading it if it's written by a Jewish woman because I think other biographers really don't capture Alma's full character in their writing.
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December 19, 2020Мери Шарат: “Екстаз”, ИК Плеяда, 👍
Oliver Hilmes, „Witwe im Wahn“, btb, 👍
Две много различни, но взаимно допълнящи се книги за една изключително интересна и все така загадъчна личност: Алма Малер-Верфер. Препоръчвам горещо на всички, които се интересуват от бляскавия златен свят на Виена в началото на 20 век.
Алма Малер е символ, а и чрез жизнения си път тясно свързана с така наречения Виенски Сецесион. Тя е дъщеря на художника Емил Шиндлер, поклонничка на Густав Климт, съпруга на композитора Густав Малер и на писателя Франц Верфел. Името и се свързва с архитекта Валтер Гропиус и художника Оскар Кокошка. За всички тях тя изиграва различни, често противоречиви роли, но главната и роля остава тази на Музата, вдъхновила едно цяло поколение талантливи творци, създали този дух, който се чувства до ден днешен на всяка крачка в центъра на Виена.
Сложният, многопластов характер на Алма Малер с някои дори биполярни, а и на места шизофренни черти е описан от двете книги по много различен начин. Художествено доизмислено и емоционално от Мари Шарат и научно академично от Оливер Хилмес. Неговата книга е част от дисертацията му.
Впечатли ме силно, че въпреки голямото изкушението, което животът и любовите на Алма Малер предлагат, и двете книги не съдят, а просто представят този противоречив образ. И още по-важно, и двете книги не изпадат на ниско клюкарско ниво, плоскост по която са се подхлъзнали повечето книги от многото книги, изписани за Алма Малер.
Фактите са, че самата тя е била талантлива композиторка, която иска да твори и да бъде призната като творец наравно с мъжете във времена, в които това е абсолютно невъзможно и даже самата и мисъл за това я отчуждава тотално не само от обществото, но и от семейството и. Алма загубва тази битка, въпреки няколкото спечелени сражения, но поставя началото на един дълъг път за равноправие и в творчеството в световен мащаб, но без ултра феминистки отклонения.
За мен Алма Малер Вердер е една ярка звезда, без която моята любима Виена нямаше да бъде най-красивият и вдъхновяващ град на света. Който иска да разбере и заобича Виена трябва да знае коя е Алма Малер и тези две книги са едно стабилно начало.
March 15, 2016
I feel bad giving this book only two stars, as it's much more due to the subject matter than to the author's work. I felt that Hilmes did an excellent job giving us a well-rounded view of Alma Mahler Gropius Werfel and I think he succeeded in presenting this biography in as unbiased a light as possible. I say "unbiased" simply because I found her to be an overall repugnant woman for whom positive attributes were clearly very far and very few in between.
The title of the book is an interesting blend of what she obviously was (malevolent) and what she purported to be (muse) to her several husbands and lovers. It takes until the very last page of the book, but the latter argument is well-refuted by stating that for none of her husbands (with perhaps the exception of Werfel, but only as an "anti" muse, in that he was so prolific because he was constantly going off to work to get away from her) could she have been considered a "muse." Mahler was already at his height of popularity and genius prior to their marriage, Gropius found no inspiration from her and Werfel has already been addressed. Only in the case of some of Kokoshka's works did Alma make an appearance, but again, this was more because he was struggling with her as a lover more than inspired to greatness by her.
As I was reading this book, I suddenly realized how much more difficult it is for me to slog through a biography of a perfectly disagreeable person than of a noble one. I'm sure she was nice to someone at some point in her life (though the way she appears to have treated one of her daughters makes even that tepid claim suspect) but all I saw was the life of a lonely, bitter, egocentric person, flitting from one man to the next in her youth, and from one bottle of Benedictine to the next in her old age.
If it wasn't for all the famous people Alma Mahler knew in her life, I'm certain Hilmes would never have had enough material (or interest) to write about this person's life.
The title of the book is an interesting blend of what she obviously was (malevolent) and what she purported to be (muse) to her several husbands and lovers. It takes until the very last page of the book, but the latter argument is well-refuted by stating that for none of her husbands (with perhaps the exception of Werfel, but only as an "anti" muse, in that he was so prolific because he was constantly going off to work to get away from her) could she have been considered a "muse." Mahler was already at his height of popularity and genius prior to their marriage, Gropius found no inspiration from her and Werfel has already been addressed. Only in the case of some of Kokoshka's works did Alma make an appearance, but again, this was more because he was struggling with her as a lover more than inspired to greatness by her.
As I was reading this book, I suddenly realized how much more difficult it is for me to slog through a biography of a perfectly disagreeable person than of a noble one. I'm sure she was nice to someone at some point in her life (though the way she appears to have treated one of her daughters makes even that tepid claim suspect) but all I saw was the life of a lonely, bitter, egocentric person, flitting from one man to the next in her youth, and from one bottle of Benedictine to the next in her old age.
If it wasn't for all the famous people Alma Mahler knew in her life, I'm certain Hilmes would never have had enough material (or interest) to write about this person's life.
June 7, 2015
I had never heard of Alma Mahler, and found the biography interesting. Hilmes writes objectively about his subject, yet shows the dynamic personality of this resourceful woman. Alma influenced many important men of the 20th century, as a wife, mistress, or friend. Alma's acquaintances read like a chapter in Who's Who. Hilmes skillfully presents the years, the decades, and the various periods with humor and wit, and an understanding of Alma's role in the picture of the time. As usual when presenting a biography, the author shows his own perspective of the events and people, but Hilmes attempts show Alma's flaws and assets. I enjoyed reading this vibrant story.
March 10, 2015
Der Autor setzte sich mit einer bekannten Frauenpersönlichkeit auseinander, die in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts lebte. Ihre Ehemänner sind als Künstler der Zeitgeschichte bekannt: Gustav Mahler, Walter Gropius und Franz Werfel. Mit dem Juden, Franz Werfel, lebte sie in der Emigration in den USA:
Das Buch ist sehr interessant mit zahlreichen Quellenangaben.
Das Buch ist sehr interessant mit zahlreichen Quellenangaben.
May 18, 2015
A well researched book which I had a tough time reading because of the subject.Alma Mahler is no more than a vapid opportunist who is difficult to like and even more difficult to keep reading about for more than 300 pages.
Full review to come.
ARC was generously provided by Northeastern University Press
Full review to come.
ARC was generously provided by Northeastern University Press
May 20, 2015
I enjoyed this interesting story of Alama Mahlera European woman who was a wife, and mistress to many men. She truly lived an interesting life if only based on all the people who she came in contact with.
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February 26, 2016Biog M2149h 2015
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