ERNST TOLLER'S LETTERS FROM EXILE, 1933–1939

Abstract

This article examines Toller's experiences in exile, with particular attention given to the genre of letters. Based on his correspondence from exile, the paper aims to trace the disparity in Ernst Toller's experience of life away from his homeland, focusing on his time in New York but also comparing it to the other locations: London and Hollywood. The editing of his letters has shown that Toller's experience of exile differed greatly from that of other German expatriates. There is no evidence that New York became a new home to him; neither topography nor people are described in detail. He hardly ever writes about his everyday life, and neither the content nor the style of his letters shows any significant difference from those written before his exile. This may of course be due to the fact that Toller's life was a succession of extreme situations: war, imprisonment, political persecution and separation. In conclusion, the article also discusses the Briefe aus dem Gefängnis, published in 1935, and argues that, not least because of their publication context and their paratext, they also sit within the context of the exile experience and represent an engaged commentary on the National Socialists’ seizure of power in Germany.