Biographical Note
Leila Vennewitz, 1912-2007, was one of the most important literary translators from German in the second half of the twentieth century. Her major translations include the works of Nobel Prize winner Heinrich Böll, Alfred Andersch, Jurek Becker, Johannes Bobrowski, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Herman Hesse, Uwe Johnson, Walter Kemposki, Uwe Timm, Martin Walser and others. Vennewitz was born in England and lived most of her later life in Vancouver, Canada. Educated in England, she also attended the Sorbonne in Paris, where she studied French literature. While in Paris she began her study of German, which she later continued in Germany. Before moving to Canada with her husband, she spent twelve years with him in China, where she studied Chinese and Italian. Her long engagement with the work of Heinrich Böll began in 1964 and continued until his death in 1985. Over the course of her career, she won many awards, including the Schlegel–Tieck Prize in 1968 for "End of a Mission" (Ende einer Dienstfahrt) by Heinrich Böll, the Goethe House P.E.N. Prize in 1979 for "And Never Said a Word" (Und sagte kein einziges Wort) by Heinrich Böll, the American Translator's Association's German Literary Prize in 1989 for "Breakers" (Brandung) by Martin Walser, and the Kurt and Helen Wolff Prize (1997) for her translation of Jurek Becker's "Jakob the Liar" (Jacob der Lügner).
Scope and Content Note
The collection includes correspondence, revised drafts, proofs, reviews, writings on translation, and other related materials from Vennewitz's work with Heinrich Böll, Juren Becker, Fritz Rudolf Fries, Martin Walser, and others.
The Böll series contains translations, drafts, correspondence, and other materials--in particular, those relating to "The Clown." Becker includes translations, drafts, correspondence, and other materials. Born includes reviews of "The Deception." Milo includes translations of "The Void." Fries includes drafts of his short stories collection, "The Television War," and miscellaneous documents. Johnson includes drafts of "Anniversaries II" and correspondence. Walser includes various drafts, reviews, correspondence, and miscellaneous materials. Translation Criticism includes the writings and speeches of Vennewitz regarding her work as translator. Miscellaneous Documents includes all other writings and documents from Vennewitz.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into to following series: I. Heinrich Böll, II. Jurek Becker, III. Nicolas Born, IV. Milo Der, V. Fritz Rudolf Fries, VI. Uwe Johnson, VII. Martin Walser, VIII. Translation Criticism, and IX. Miscellaneous Documents.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions:
This collection is open for research.
Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.
Indexed Terms
-
Persons
- Becker, Jurek, 1937-1997
- Born, Nicolas
- Böll, Heinrich, 1917-1985
- Fries, Fritz Rudolf, 1935-2014
- Johnson, Uwe, 1934-1984
- Walser, Martin, 1927-
-
Subjects
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
[Item], Vennewitz, Leila mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Acquisition Information
Donated: 2002
Collection Inventory
box 1
"Der Clown" German Copy, Blue Notebook
box 1
"The Clown" LV File Copy, Grey Binding
box 1
"Short Pieces" Vol. I, White Binding
box 1
"Short Pieces" Vol. II, Grey Binding
box 1
"Short Pieces" Vol. III, Blue Binding
box 1
"The Clown" Translated Copy with Soft Cover
box 1
"The Clown" Typescript in German
box 1
"The Clown" Translation Extract in Pencil
box 1
"The Clown" Translation with Corrections Ver. I 1972 , 1972
box 1
"The Clown" Translation with Corrections Ver. II 1972 , 1972
box 1
"Tapping Signals" Original in German, Alt. Title: Klopfzeicher
box 1
"Tapping Signals" Page 1 Missing
box 1
"Tapping Signals" Translation, Corrections in Pencil 1983 , 1983
box 1
"Tapping Signals" Translation, Corrections in Ink
box 1
"Breach of the Peace" Translation, Corrections in Black Ink, Orange Binding
box 1
"The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum" Translation, Corrections in Ink
box 1
"People - Places - Events" Translation, Correction in Ink
box 1
"In welcher Sprache heißt man Schneckenröder" German, Corrections in Red Ink and Pencil
box 1
"Introduction to Artbook on Israel" Translation, Corrections in Black Ink 1977
box 1
"Introduction to No Gaol for Though" Translation, 1975 , 1975
box 1
"Wer Augen hat zu sehen, sehe!" UdSSR
box 1
"Die verhaftete Welt" Offprint with brief note by Böll
box 1
"An Approach to the Rationality of Poetry" Translation, Corrections in Pencil, Red Ink, and Green Ink 1973 , 1973
box 1
Tables of Contents of Böll's essays and speeches, marked by him to be translated
box 1
"Taceat Ecclesia - kritische Anmerkungen zur päpslichen Enzyklika 'Humanae Vitae'" Original in German
box 1
Copy of Böll's Short Stories in The New Yorker, 1978 , 1978
box 1
"Heinrich Böll on His New Novel, 'Group Portrait with Lady'" Interview Translated 1971 , 1971
box 1
Typescript Draft of Letter from Böll to His Sons 1984-1985 , 1984-1985
box 1
Various Publications/Profiles of Böll in German
box 1
Various Newspaper Clippings about Böll in German
box 1
Miscellaneous Clippings and Letters
box 1
"Heinrich Böll - Change and Continuity" Speech by Vennewitz 1982 , 1982
box 1
"Heinrich Böll" Speech by Vennewitz Broadcasted Upon His Death 1985 , 1985
box 1
Correspondence 1964-1970 from Vennewitz , 1964-1970
box 1
Correspondence 1964-1970 from Böll , 1964-1970
box 1
Correspondence 1971-1973 from Vennewitz , 1971-1973
box 1
Correspondence 1974-1945 from Vennewitz , 1974-1975
box 1
Correspondence 1971-1975 from Böll , 1971-1975
box 1
Correspondence 1976-1977 from Vennewitz , 1976-1977
box 1
orrespondence 1978-1980 from Vennewitz , 1978-1980
box 1
Correspondence 1976-1980 from Böll , 1976-1980
box 1
Correspondence 1981-1985 from Vennewitz , 1981-1985
box 1
Correspondence 1981-1985 from Böll , 1981-1985
box 1
Correspondence between Vennewitz and Maximillian Schell re "The Clown" 1972-1973 , 1972-1973
box 1
Correspondence between Vennewitz and Renate Grudzbach 1971-1981 , 1971-1981
box 1
Correspondence from Annemarie Böll to Vennewitz
box 2
"The Boxer" Translation - Early Draft, incomplete comments
box 2
"The Boxer" Translation - Draft 1 and 2, Corrections in Ink 1998 , 1998
box 2
"The Boxer" Translation - Ribbon Copy, Never Submitted 2005 , 2005
box 2
"The Wall" Translation 1980 , 1980
box 2
"The Wall" Translation, Corrections in Pencil 1980 , 1980
box 2
Correspondence 1987-1993 From Vennewitz , 1987-1993
box 2
Correspondence 1987-1993 From Becker , 1987-1993
Series:
III. NICOLAS BORN
box 2
"The Deception" Reviews 1983 , 1983
box 2
"The Void" Translation 1966 , 1966
box 2
"The Void" Translation 1972 , 1972
Series:
V. FRITZ RUDOLF FRIES
box 2
"The Television War" Translation - Carbon copy
box 2
"The Television War - The Television War" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - Viva America" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - The Sleep of Dictators" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - The Sea Route to India" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - The Runner on the Roof" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - Liebold" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - The Banana King" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - The Books" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - Descriptions of My Friends" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - Severing the Cord" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - The Park at Varna" Translation Draft 1
box 2
"The Television War - The Television War" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - Viva America" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - The Sleep of Dictators" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - The Sea Route to India" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - The Runner on the Roof" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - Liebold" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - The Banana King" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - The Books" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - Descriptions of My Friends" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - Severing the Cord" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"The Television War - The Park at Varna" Translation Draft 2
box 2
"Anniversaries II - Part I" File Copy, Orange Binding
box 2
"Anniversaries II - Part II" File Copy, Orange Binding
box 2
"Anniversaries II" Typescript, Corrections in Ink
box 2
Correspondence Re Johnson 2003 , 2003
Series:
VII. MARTIN WALSER
box 2
"Goethes Anziehungskraft"
box 2
"The Inner Man" Copy-Edited Extract
box 2
Questions, Answers, Notes
box 2
Correspondence 1979-1983 , 1979-1983
box 2
Correspondence 1984-1987 , 1984-1987
box 2
Correspondence 1987-2004 , 1987-2004
Series:
VIII. TRANSLATION CRITICISM
box 2
"The Possible Art" 1973 , 1973
box 2
"Talk Re Translating Böll" 1975 , 1975
box 2
"Translating Heinrich Böll"
box 2
"On Translating Heinrich Böll" Various Copies
box 2
"Sense and Sensibility and What They Mean to the Author" 1976 , 1976
box 2
"Translator and Author - Some Relatonships" 1981 , 1981
box 2
Correspondence with Teuscher Gerhart about "Translator and Author" 1980-1982 , 1980-1982
box 2
"Who Is a Translator" Typescript with Corrections in Ink 1983 , 1983
box 2
"Who Is a Translator" Typescript
box 2
"Who Is a Translator?" Abbreviated Text - PEN American Center Newsletter
box 2
"The Art of the Other" Master Copy 1985 , 1985
box 2
"The Art of the Other" Master Copy 2nd set 1985 , 1985
Series:
IX. MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS
box 2
Judging - Pen Translation Awards 1992-1993 , 1992-1993
box 2
Miscellaneous Clippings and Photo of Vennewitz
box 2
Helen and Kurt Wolft Prize for Outstanding Translation
box 2
"Charlotte Salomon: the Complete Collection," CD-ROM