Unveiling WH Auden's Unexpected Bond with a Burglar

CoinZn A remarkable find of previously unseen letters has unveiled a profound friendship between the esteemed English poet WH Auden and a Viennese sex worker and car mechanic, who initially crossed paths when he burgled Auden's home. This unexpected connection blossomed after the individual, known as Hugo Kurka, faced trial for the crime.

Born in York, Auden was a pivotal figure among the prominent writers of the 1930s, sharing the literary stage with notable contemporaries such as Christopher Isherwood, Louis MacNeice, and Stephen Spender. In his later work, the poem Glad, which was published posthumously, Auden reflects on this unconventional relationship, stating:

“Our life-paths crossed, / At a moment when / You were in need of money / And I wanted sex.”

Until recently, little was known about Kurka's background and criminal history until Helmut Neundlinger, an Auden scholar, mentioned him on an Austrian television program marking the 50th anniversary of the poet's death in 2023. Following this broadcast, Neundlinger received an email from a woman who had formed a close relationship with Kurka and his wife, Christa, after their relocation to the Lower Austrian countryside in the 1990s. Upon their passing from cancer in 2012 and 2013, she inherited their belongings, which included a treasure trove of letters.

Unveiling WH Auden's Unexpected Bond with a Burglar Neundlinger was shown approximately 100 letters that Auden had penned to Kurka, some also directed to his spouse. Cultural historian Sandra Mayer from the Austrian Academy of Sciences described the find as “a once in a century discovery, the kind of thing a literary historian can only dream of.” Mayer, alongside her colleague Timo Frühwirth, has been digitizing these letters over the past two years, bringing this significant collection to light.

The letters span roughly a decade, from the early 1960s to the 1970s, and are characterized by an enthusiastic yet often misspelled and grammatically unconventional German. Auden's earlier experiences in Berlin during the late 1920s, combined with a marriage of convenience to the bisexual daughter of novelist Thomas Mann, Erika, to facilitate her escape from the Nazis, paint a picture of his complex life.

Following a period in the United States, Auden settled in Kirchstetten, Austria, where he lived until his death in 1973. At the time he met the much younger Kurka, Auden was in his mid-50s, while Kurka was a working-class individual in his twenties. Auden’s poetry captures the essence of their relationship, as he wrote:

Ignite Curiosity: Nurturing a Passion for Lifelong Learning “Glad our worlds of enchantment / Are so several / Neither is tempted to broach.”

He noted the contrasts between their lives: “I cannot tell a / Jaguar from a Bentley / And you never read.”

This relationship bears a resemblance to the well-known connection between painter Francis Bacon and his lover George Dyer, a petty criminal from East London. However, while the narrative of Dyer breaking into Bacon's apartment has taken on a mythic quality, Auden’s encounter with Kurka is rooted in reality.

https://coinzn.org/ Although Kurka had completed an apprenticeship and was employed, he faced financial difficulties. When Auden lent him his Volkswagen Beetle prior to a trip to the US, Kurka and two accomplices used the vehicle to commit a series of car burglaries, culminating in the break-in at the poet's residence. They were apprehended, leading to Kurka’s trial.

The discovery of these letters not only enriches the understanding of WH Auden’s life and relationships but also highlights the profound connections that can arise from the most unlikely circumstances. This unexpected friendship between a celebrated poet and a young man from a vastly different background serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the narratives that shape our lives.