Maximilian Kronberger
Maximilian Kronberger, known familiarly as Maximin, was a German poet and a significant figure in the literary circle of Stefan George.
Maximin came to the attention of Stefan George in Munich in 1903 ; he died unexpectedly of meningitis the following year, on the day after his 16th birthday. He was "idealized to the point of proclaiming him a god, following his death... the cult of 'Maximin' became an integral part of the George circle's practice..." The Maximin-Erlebnis certainly provided George with inspiration for his work in subsequent years.
Thirty-three of Kronberger's poems are included in the posthumously published collective volume, Maximin: Ein Gedenkbuch.
Primary references
- Maximilian Kronberger, Gedichte, Tagebücher, Briefe, ed. Georg Peter Landmann, Stefan-George-Stiftung.
- Maximilian Kronberger, Maximilian Kronberger: Nachlass.
Subsidiary references
- Claus-Artur Scheier, 'Maximins Lichtung: Philosophische Bemerkungen zu Georges Gott', George‑Jahrbuch, No. 1, pp. 80-106.
- Andreas Martin Mauz, 'Gedicht und Gebet: Aspekte einer Familienähnlichkeit', unpublished M.A. dissertation, University of Basle, 2001.
- Robert E. Norton, Secret Germany: Stefan George and his Circle.