Romansh branch Swiss literature

synopsis on romansh authors, birth , idiom (including rumantsch grischun).

the emergence of romansh literary language dated mid-16th century. first substantial surviving work in romansh poem in ladin, chianzun dalla guerra dagl chiaste da müs written in putèr dialect in 1527 gian travers (johann von travers, 1483–1563), though not published till 1865. epic poem describing first musso war travers himself had taken part in.

subsequent works have religious themes, including bible translations, manuals religious instructions, , biblical plays. first book printed in (at poschiavo in 1552) translation of german catechism, , next translation of new testament: l g nuof sainc testamaint da nos signer jesu christ, @ poschiavo, in 1560, both works jachiam bifrun/giachem bifrun. of works in ladin dialects translations of books of religious or educational nature. 2 years later, in 1562, writer engadine, durich chiampel, published cudesch da psalms, collection of romansh church songs in vallader dialect.

in sursilvan dialect, first surviving works religious works such catechism daniel bonifaci , in 1611, ilg vêr sulaz da pievel giuvan ( true joys of young people ), series of religious instructions protestant youths published steffan gabriel. 4 years later in 1615, catholic catechism curt mussament published in response, written gion antoni calvenzano. first translation of new testament sursilvan published in 1648 son of steffan gabriel, luci gabriel. first complete translation of bible, bibla da cuera published between 1717 , 1719.

the principal writers in romonsch dialects, less literary of two, in 19th century theodor von castelberg (1748–1830), poet , translator of poetry, , p. a. de latour (about 1811) poet, while best of poets in dialect anton huonder, lyrics considered remarkable. alexander balletta (1842–1887) wrote prose romances , sketches, while j. c. muoth (giacun hasper muoth, 1844–1906), himself typical , characteristic figure, wrote in prose , verse regards native region.

in ladin 1 of chief figures poet conradin von flugi (1787–1874), published volumes of poems in 1845 , 1861, poems, novels , translations of gian fadri caderas (1830–1891) placed above them. other ladin poets florin valentin, o. p. juvalta , s. caratsch (died 1892), while peider lansel (1863–1943) represents younger generation. zaccaria pallioppi (1820–1873) wrote poems, excellent ladin dictionary compiled not published till 1895 care of son.

non-religious writings in romansh began appearing in second half of 19th century in substantial numbers. literary output of period deals language , seen part of romansh revival known romansh renaissance . literature of period consists of poetry , short stories praising romansh language , dealing topics related rural background of romansh valleys. common theme emigration of so-called randulins , spend of lives working abroad. in addition, many works translated romansh, german writers popular @ time. well-known sursilvan poets of time include théodore de castelberg (1748–1818), placidus spescha (1752–1833) or gion antoni huonder (1824–1867). best-known sursilvan poet giachen caspar muoth (1844–1906) however, considered well-versed romansh poet of all. poets , ballads deal romansh itself, such famous work al pievel romontsch ( romansh people ):

manuscript of al pievel romontsch

 stai si, defenda,

romontsch, tiu vegl lungatg,

risguard pretenda

per tiu patratg! (help·info)

stand up, defend,
romansh, old language,
demand respect
for thought!

other sursilvan writers of romansh renaissance include caspar decurtins (1855–1916), collected among other things popular legends, ballads, , songs, giachen michel nay (1860–1920), described rural life in several novels, alfons tuor (1871–1904), , gian fontana (1897–1935), known novels. in addition, priest maurus carnot (1865–1935) had grown in samnaun did not speak romansh dialect of hometown, learned sursilvan in disentis , later wrote plays, lyric, , short stories dealing rural life. finally, flurin camathias author of several sursilvan plays, poems, , epics, in addition having translated numerous works romansh.

literary works in surmiran comparatively rare, alexander lozza murmarera being notable one.

in engadine, first modern poets include gian battista tschander , conradin de flug (1787–1874). writers of romanticism era include siméon caratsch (1826–1891) , gian fadri caderas (1830–1891), co-authored works such comedy ils duos poets. other well-known poets , songwriters of period include andrea bezzola (1840–1897), author of song ma bella val, mi engiadina, or gudench barblan (1860–1916), author of song la lingua materna

another important engadine figure of period zaccaria pallioppi (1820–1873). while wrote poems of own, main work first ladin dictionary, published son in 1895. 1 of first female writers clementina gilli (1858–1942), translated several major works of european literature , published few original works well, using pseudonym clio. other engadine writers of romansh-renaissance include schimun vonmoos (1868–1940), wrote poets , short tales in addition translating, gian gianett cloetta (1874–1965) or eduard bezzola (1875–1948), wrote dramas, comedies, , songs or translated them. best-known engadine poet peider lansel (1863–1943) however, retired @ age in 1906 , dedicated himself poetry, becoming 1 of first romansh writers gain fame outside of region. work includes on 200 poems, published in several collections in 1907 (primulas), 1912 (la cullana d ambras) , 1929 in principal work il vegl chalamêr. in addition, work includes several anthologies of romansh poets, such la musa ladina (1910) , la musa rumantscha (posthumous 1950). shortly before death, became first romansh writer receive grosser schillerpreis.

from 1940s onwards, romansh writers began reflect on widespread economical , social changes of traditional romansh society , word of modernity. andri peer (1921–1985) lower engadine considered 1 of first modern romansh writers, works introduced modern literary trends romansh. modern writing style met opposition, , not recognized , appreciated until later. engadine writer of literary movement cla biert (1920–1981), became known humorous short stories. notably sursilvan writers include flurin darms (born 1918) lyrics, , gion battesta sialm (1897–1977) , guglielm gadola (1902–1961) short stories. 1 of more famous contemporary novelists toni halter (1914–1986), treated historic or rural themes in works. known novels , short stories sursilvan writer gion deplazes (born 1918). engadine writer jon semadeni (1910–1981) author of several theater plays , sketches, in addition writing prose well. known plays men gaudenz , tista murk (1915–1992) val müstair , carli fry (1897–1956) surselva. more recently, sursilvan writer arno camenisch (born 1978) gained attention outside romansh community novels , short stories, including bilingual romansh-german book sez ner.

concerning children , young-adult books, original works have been written in romansh alongside large number of translations. famous of these books of selina chönz, book uorsin has become famous outside of switzerland in german version schellenursli. other authors include clo duri bezzola (kindels dal malom), göri klainguti (linard lum), linard bardill (il guaffen gelg), g. netzer (martin steiler, annina, la princessa loscha), theo candinas (la fuigia dil stoffel) or claudia cadruvi (capuns ed il stgazi dals franzos).

drama represented biblical plays, notably passiuns sursilvanas (developed in 17th–18th century). 18th century, courtroom dramas based on criminal cases added village repertoire. in 20th century, many villages stage annual vernacular comedy. jon semadeni established la culissa theatrical touring company in 1944. drama il pövel cumada, first staged in 1946, considered landmark in romansh drama. company ceased touring in 1977.

from 1940s onwards, romansh writers consciously attempted assimilate influences international literary movements, reflecting situation of traditional romansh culture disappearing way of life in world of modernity , change. in 1946, romansh writers’ union established artur caflisch , jon guidon, known since 2004 ulr (union romansh literature).

the romansh writers organized in writer s union uniun per la litteratura rumantscha established in 1946, organizes since 1990 yearly event dis da litteratura annual romansh literary festival has been held. writers today write in regional dialect, while pan-regional variety rumantsch grischun seeing increased use in works done lia rumantscha such translations of children s books.

other writers include: maurus carnot (1846–1935), giachen michel hay (1860–1920), gian fontana (1897–1935), leza uffer (1912–1982), armon planta (1917–1986), gion luregn derungs, gion deplazes (born 1918), cla biert (1920–1981), andri peer (1921–1985), martin suter, tim krohn.