Correspondence from Max Nordau, 1886-1902 (bulk 1888-1894)
Scope and Contents
The series includes 291 letters in French, mostly dating from 1888 to 1894, as well as a prescription, 3 calling cards, a printed poem by Nordau, and 2 envelopes without letters. Topics include Nordau's interior thoughts, political and social philosophy, politics, the publishing business, medicine and medical advice, theatre, family troubles, gossip from Germany and France, the position of Germans in France, the position of Jewish people, his dislike for the English, analyses of his and Novikova's characters, and other related matters.
Dates
- Creation: 1886-1902 (bulk 1888-1894)
Biography of Simon Maximilian Südfeld (Max Simon Nordau) (1849-1923)
Max Simon Nordau, born Simon Maximilian Südfeld in Pest, Hungary, was the son of rabbi Gabriel Südfeld, who earned his livelihood as a Hebrew tutor. Nordau earned his medical degree from the University of Budapest in 1872 and spent the next few years traveling, mostly in Europe, changing his name to Nordau before going to Berlin in 1873. He had a medical practice and in 1880 moved to Paris, where he spent much of his adult life.
Nordau served as a contributor, dramatic critic, editorial writer, and correspondent for several newspapers; these writings he collected and published as books. Converting to Zionism, he was a co-founder of the World Zionist Organization. Nordau had one daughter, the painter Maxa Nordau (1897-1991).
Language of Materials
French
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository