Educated in law at the Universities in Vienna and Salzburg and where he also practised law, Herzl eventually decided on a career in journalism and literature. He took a position as a correspondent with Neue Freie Presse n Paris. He travelled on their behalf to London and Istanbul. The Dreyfuss Affair in France had much to do with Herzl's conversion to Zionism.In 1896, he wrote Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State), which received both acclaim and controversy, and which recommended the establishment of a Jewish state. Herzl wrote the play The New Ghetto in 1898. Later that year, he met with Kaiser Wilhelm, which furthered his views. He gained much support, but also some strong criticism, such as that of Israel Zangwill. He visited Jerusalem in 1898 and again met with the Kaiser. In the early years of the new century, Herzl continued to get support for the establishment of Palestine. Unfortunately, Herzl died from heart problems in 1904. Today, an Israeli national holiday is celebrated in his honour. In addition to his political works, Herzl was an accomplished author of many plays and some novels. His works include Tabarin (1884), Seine Hoheit (1885), Der Fluchtling (1887), Prinzen Aus Genieland (1891), Die Glosse (1895), Gretel (1899), I Love You (1900), The Old New Land (1902) and Solon in Lydien (1905 Posthumous). |
