25th anniversary of death - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1998 - 7 Shilling

Christine Lavant was born on 4 July 1915, the ninth child of the miner Georg Thonhauser and his wife Anna in Groß-Edling near St. Stefan in the Lavant Valley (Carinthia) in a milieu of great misery and provincial narrowness. Because of her constant illnesses a regular school attendance was not possible, she could do no heavy physical work and finally had to earn a living as a knitter. After a period of severe depression, Lavant dealt with religious, mystical, philosophical and occult literature and finally with Rainer Maria Rilke, who caused her to write. The first book was the story "The Child" with a strong autobiographical reference. It was followed by the story "The Kruglein" and the poetry book "The Unfinished Love" (1949). With the book of poems "The beggar bowl" (1956) succeeded Christine Lavant's breakthrough in the literary public, she was awarded the first prizes, numerous others followed: Georg Trakl Prize 1954 and 1964, Prize of the Bavarian Academy of Arts (1963) , Anton Wild Goose Price (1964), Great Austrian State Prize for Literature (1970). Other significant publications include "Spindle in the Moon" (1959), "Sunbird" (1960), "Throw Off the Clay" (1961) and "The Peacock's Cries" (1962). Christine Lavant died on 7 June 1973 as a result of a stroke. She received a grave of honor in St. Stefan.