Memories of Contact Zones in Prague in Autobiographies of Else Kornis and Charlotte Herder Cover Image
Download

Erinnerungen an Begegnungsorte in Prag in den Autobiographien von Else Kornis und Charlotte Herder
Memories of Contact Zones in Prague in Autobiographies of Else Kornis and Charlotte Herder

Author(s): Gudrun Wedel
Subject(s): Cultural history
Published by: AV ČR - Akademie věd České republiky - Slovanský ústav and Euroslavica
Keywords: autobiography; contact zones; Prague circle; language skills; contexts of publishing;

Summary/Abstract: This paper explores the autobiographies of Else Kornis (1889-1983), daughter of a Jewish merchant, and Charlotte Herder (1872-1959), daughter of a Catholic professor, both living in Prague in the years around 1900. Based on a larger concept of the construction of space, the focus lies on contact zones. At first, the biographical background of the authors is presented, and their different contexts of publishing are described. Both factors influence the representation and selection of recollections. Then it is shown, how the authors used the Czech language for constructing social contacts. The analysis shows where these contacts took place in daily life by three types of contact zones, i.e. flats, a public school, and cafés. The autobiographies show the complexity and multifunctionality of these spaces.

  • Issue Year: XXXIII/2022
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 51-68
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: German
Toggle Accessibility Mode