Photo: Carl Van Vechten / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Born on September 10, 1890 in Prague, Czech Republic, Franz Werfel was a poet, playwright and screenwriter. Death is recorded on August 26, 1945, at the age of 54. Listed accolades include Franz-Grillparzer-Preis (1926). Credited works include The Man Who Conquered Death, The Forty Days of Musa Dagh and The Song of Bernadette.
My Take
Franz Werfel is a writer I hold in deep regard. A Prague-born novelist, poet and playwright whose career straddled both world wars, he used literature as a form of moral memory. The Forty Days of Musa Dagh kept alive the story of a genocide the world was eager to forget, and that alone secures his place for me. Writing in exile, he gave us The Song of Bernadette and, near the end, the strange speculative vision of Star of the Unborn. What moves me most is not the Grillparzer Prize but his refusal to stop writing while the century tried to silence him.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Franz Werfel
- Name (Japanese)
- フランツ・ヴェルフェル
- Reading
- ふらんつ・ゔぇるふぇる
- Born
- September 10, 1890 – August 26, 1945
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Tiger
- Origin
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Occupation
- writer / poet / playwright / screenwriter / science fiction writer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1926 Franz-Grillparzer-Preis
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Man Who Conquered Death | — | |
| Notable work | The Forty Days of Musa Dagh | — | |
| Notable work | The Song of Bernadette | — | |
| Notable work | Star of the Unborn | — |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-23
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Franz Werfel born?
Born September 10, 1890.
When did Franz Werfel die?
Died August 26, 1945, aged 54.
Where was Franz Werfel from?
Franz Werfel was from Prague, Czech Republic.
What did Franz Werfel do?
Franz Werfel worked as writer, poet, playwright, screenwriter, science fiction writer.
What was Franz Werfel known for?
Notable works include The Man Who Conquered Death, The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, The Song of Bernadette.
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