“No one writes like a god who has not suffered like a dog.” Marie von Ebner- Eschenbach (1830-1916) wrote against prejudices and established thoughts of her time. Without the support of her aristocratic entourage and slated by the press, she fought to be taken seriously as a woman writer. After setbacks as a playwright, she achieved a breakthrough with her socially and socio-critical prose – aphorisms, stories and novels; moreover, the non-conformist aristocrat became an identification figure for the workers’ movement and a role model for the women’s movement. In 1898, she received the Austrian Decoration of Honor for Art and Science; two years later, she was the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Vienna. “Whoever is clever and strong, disregards fashion and does not give it allegiance at any price, sometimes experiences the triumph of having it come running after him.”
The first part of the program, accompanied by her memoirs and aphorisms, tells about her life; in the second part, Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach looks back on a formative experience in her childhood.
Bettina Rossbacher, a native of Salzburg, is a professional speaker, reciter & creator of literary programs. Since 2008 she has presented her own as well as co-productions at renowned Austrian venues, appearances abroad have taken her to Pressburg, Copenhagen, Tunis and Munich, among others. The focus of her work is literary portraits of great (old) Austrian women writers; since 2020 also in the form of her own video format. As a speaker with working languages in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish, she is booked for audio books, podcasts and as an OFF voice and gives coaching in elocution. Bettina Rossbacher is married and lives near Vienna. Info: www.BettinaRossbacher.com
The video reading becomes in the period 30. May-6. June under the link: https://vimeo.com/522713288 and the password: EE.
