Karl Kraus

Karl Kraus, writer, satirist, journalist, was born into a wealthy Jewish family in 1874. He renounced his Judaism in 1899, was baptized Catholic in 1911, but also left the Catholic faith in 1923. Kraus never married, but had a long-time relationship with Baroness Sidonie Nadherny.

Karl Kraus is a close friend to Adolf Loos. Kraus made a habit of sleeping during the day and working at night, as alluded to in our play. While editing his magazine, Die Fackel (The Torch), he would eat dinner at the coffee house and drink lots of black coffee. OK noted that it was always an honor to be allowed to sit at his table at the coffeehouse.

According to OK in his autobiography My Life, Kraus had a "compelling" personality. His magazine began in 1899 and continued for 37 years, even through times of war. Kraus was able to fund his magazine on his own, and as of 1911, he was the only author of the publication.

Click below to see some images of Kraus:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74644976@N00/sets/72157594392996987/

Some of this information was taken from:
Kokoschka, Oskar. My Life. Trans. David Britt. New York: Macmillan, 1974.