About Karl Schönherr
Lived 1867 – 1943 (aged 76). Karl Schönherr was an Austrian writer, physician, playwright and medical doctor.
Karl Schönherr (24 February 1867 - 15 March 1943) was an Austrian writer of Austrian Heimat themes.
Biography Schönherr was born in Axams, near Innsbruck (Austria), to Joseph and Marie Suitner Schönherr. He began studying philosophy in Innsbruck, then switched to medicine in Vienna, becoming a doctor in 1896. He worked in a hospital in St. Pölten before opening his own practice in Vienna. He gave up practising after the success of Der Bildschnitzer.
He experienced the poor living conditions of the people around him, especially during World War I, and wrote about these topics. Schönherr's works include protests against the Catholic church. He was also in favor of the Anschluss, but apparently did not share antisemitic tendencies. His wife Malvine (1867-1956) was Jewish.
Death Schönherr died in Vienna. He is buried on the Zentralfriedhof (Group 14 C, #11).
Works
Der Judas von Tirol ("Judas of Tirol", 1897) Der Bildschnitzer: Eine Tragödie braver Leute ("The Woodcarver: A Tragedy of Good People", 1900) Die Altweibermühle: Ein deutsches Fastnachtspiel ("The Old Woman's Mill: A German Carnival Play", 1902) Der Sonnwendtag ("Solstice Day") Karrnerleut ("The Carters", 1904); later Kindertragödie ("Children's Tragedy", 1919) Familie ("Family", 1905) Erde ("Earth", 1908) Glaube und Heimat ("Belief and home", 1910) Der Weibsteufel ("The She Devil", 1914) Frau Suitner (Mrs. Suitner, 1922) Es ("It", 1923) Die Hungerblockade (1925) Volk in Not ("People in distress", 1926) Der Armendoktor (1927) Herr Doktor, haben Sie zu essen? (1930) Die Fahne weht (1937)
Film adaptations Erde, directed by Emmerich Hanus (Austria, 1920, based on the play Erde) , directed by Emmerich Hanus (Austria, 1921, based on the play Glaube und Heimat) Thy Name Is Woman, directed by Fred Niblo (1924, based on the play Der Weibsteufel) The Judas of Tyrol, directed by Franz Osten (Germany, 1933, based on the play Der Judas von Tirol) Earth, directed by Leopold Hainisch (Switzerland/Austria, 1947, based on the play Erde) A Devil of a Woman, directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner (Austria, 1951, based on the play Der Weibsteufel) Frau Suitner, directed by Gustav Manker, Hermann Lanske (Austria, 1962, TV film, based on the play Frau Suitner) Der Weibsteufel, directed by Georg Tressler (Austria, 1966, based on the play Der Weibsteufel)
Der Weibsteufel, directed by Jo Baier (Germany, 2000, TV film, based on the play Der Weibsteufel) Der Judas von Tirol, directed by Werner Asam (Germany, 2006, TV film, based on the play Der Judas von Tirol) Grenzgänger, directed by Florian Flicker (Austria, 2012, based on the play Der Weibsteufel)
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Important facts
People in Karl Schönherr's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Karl Schönherr's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Karl Schönherr?
writer of Austrian Heimat themes (1867–1943)
When was Karl Schönherr born?
Karl Schönherr was born on 24 February 1867 in Axams.
When did Karl Schönherr die?
Karl Schönherr died on 15 March 1943 in Vienna.
What was Karl Schönherr's occupation?
Karl Schönherr was a writer, physician, playwright and medical doctor.
What nationality was Karl Schönherr?
Karl Schönherr was Austrian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Karl Schönherr. https://biography.guide/karl-schonherr/
MLA: "Karl Schönherr." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/karl-schonherr/.
Chicago: "Karl Schönherr." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/karl-schonherr/.
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