Egon Friedell (born Friedmann) was a well-known Viennese personality during the early twentieth century. His eccentricity and wide-ranging interests earned him such labels as “universal man”, “Viennese original”, and “consummate man of letters”. A friend of many well-known authors and a member of the coffeehouse circle that included writers Alfred Polgar and Peter Altenberg, he was an actor, cabaret director and scriptwriter, aphorist, feuilletonist, and theater critic. Friedell was not merely interested in socializing and entertainment, however. During his entire adult life he was also devoted to acting in serious roles, also to translating and to scholarship, primarily historical, but also literary and satirical, philosophical and religious. After earning a doctorate from…
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Citation: Saur, Pamela S.. "Egon Friedell". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 October 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12179, accessed 23 November 2024.]
