Jelinek, Elfriede (1946–)

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Jelinek, Elfriede (1946–)

Austrian novelist, poet and playwright. Born Oct 20, 1946, in Mürzzuschlag, Austria; dau. of Czech-Jewish father and Austrian mother; studied composition at Vienna Conservatory; attended University of Vienna; m. Gottfried Hüngsberg.

Reclusive writer who depicts "the horrors of reality," published 1st collection of poems, Lisas Schatten (1967), followed by 1st novel Wir sind lockvögel baby! (We Are Decoys, Baby! 1970); her writings, which denounce oppression, sexual violence and right-wing extremism, include Die Liebhaberinnen (Women as Lovers, 1975), Die Klavierspielein (The Piano Teacher, 1983), which was filmed in France with Isabelle Huppert, Die Ausgesperrten (Wonderful, Wonderful Times, 1980) and Lust (1989); a fierce opponent of Austria's far-right Freedom Party, was a member of Austrian Communist Party (1974–91); her play Bambiland (2003), attacks US invasion of Iraq; awarded the Nobel Prize for literature (2004).