Diary entry made by Edith Schiele
Courtesy Kallir Research Institute, New York
ESDA ID
3467
Nebehay 1979
Nicht gelistet/Not listed
Credit line
Courtesy Kallir Research Institute, New York
Place
Neuhaus in Böhmen (Jindřichův Hradec)
Date
3rd July 1915 (handwritten)
Material/technique
Ink on paper
Dimensions
24 x 19,5 cm
Transcription
[Translation:]
Saturday, July 3, 1915
It’s 11h45 at night – and I can’t sleep!
Today was one of the worst days. – Again
not one hour of freedom – for Egon. And still
because of that monster who calls himself a human being, this
dreadful barracks confinement. – I will try to meet
Colonel Neumann tomorrow – perhaps
my pleading will be able to change the situation – if
I could just get hold of the man; I don’t
want to give up the hope – that this
terrible life will soon change for me – and especially
for Egon.
My poor fellow was so despondent again today,
if only I were able to keep him in good spirits, I
will do the best I can – I console him
– though, in truth, I could do with it myself –
I’m so alone here – with only
my longing for him – and I get so miserable
– when I think about the whole situation.
I won’t be able to sleep much tonight, if at all.
Downstairs – in the restaurant
||
the Czech one-year volunteers are celebrating something,
whooping
and singing like – coachmen. –
This singing is dreadful – this on top of everything else
– it’s enough to drive one crazy – if only
they would stop soon – otherwise,
I’ll end up running away in the middle of the night.
– – –
I’ll go to bed now and stick my head
firmly under the blanket – to hear nothing and
simply think – tomorrow will be better. –
Hopefully I’ll be right.
Goodnight, Egon – your Edith is always with you –
I feel and suffer with you – like no other person
could. – My every thought is yours.
I wonder if you’re sleeping now? – I want to believe so –
otherwise
I could find no rest either.
I press your dear, good face
to my cheek – I kiss you – and love you
endlessly!
Saturday, July 3, 1915
It’s 11h45 at night – and I can’t sleep!
Today was one of the worst days. – Again
not one hour of freedom – for Egon. And still
because of that monster who calls himself a human being, this
dreadful barracks confinement. – I will try to meet
Colonel Neumann tomorrow – perhaps
my pleading will be able to change the situation – if
I could just get hold of the man; I don’t
want to give up the hope – that this
terrible life will soon change for me – and especially
for Egon.
My poor fellow was so despondent again today,
if only I were able to keep him in good spirits, I
will do the best I can – I console him
– though, in truth, I could do with it myself –
I’m so alone here – with only
my longing for him – and I get so miserable
– when I think about the whole situation.
I won’t be able to sleep much tonight, if at all.
Downstairs – in the restaurant
||
the Czech one-year volunteers are celebrating something,
whooping
and singing like – coachmen. –
This singing is dreadful – this on top of everything else
– it’s enough to drive one crazy – if only
they would stop soon – otherwise,
I’ll end up running away in the middle of the night.
– – –
I’ll go to bed now and stick my head
firmly under the blanket – to hear nothing and
simply think – tomorrow will be better. –
Hopefully I’ll be right.
Goodnight, Egon – your Edith is always with you –
I feel and suffer with you – like no other person
could. – My every thought is yours.
I wonder if you’re sleeping now? – I want to believe so –
otherwise
I could find no rest either.
I press your dear, good face
to my cheek – I kiss you – and love you
endlessly!
Recorded in
Vollständige Transkription abgedruckt in:
Edith Schiele: „Das Tagebuch. ‚Ich werde dieses Buch nicht Tagebuch heißen, – sondern Trostbuch‘“, in: Zeiten des Umbruchs. Egon Schieles letzte Jahre 1914–1918, hrsg. von Kerstin Jesse/Jane Kallir/Hans-Peter Wipplinger, Wien 2025, S. 50–77 (Ausst.-Kat. Leopold Museum, Wien, 28.03.–13.07.2025).
Edith Schiele: „Das Tagebuch. ‚Ich werde dieses Buch nicht Tagebuch heißen, – sondern Trostbuch‘“, in: Zeiten des Umbruchs. Egon Schieles letzte Jahre 1914–1918, hrsg. von Kerstin Jesse/Jane Kallir/Hans-Peter Wipplinger, Wien 2025, S. 50–77 (Ausst.-Kat. Leopold Museum, Wien, 28.03.–13.07.2025).
Author
Mentioned person
Image credit
Courtesy Kallir Research Institute, New York
Linked objects
PURL: https://www.egonschiele.at/3467