Raymond Schwartz

Raymond Schwartz
Born	Template:Birth date Metz, Alsace-Lorraine
Died	May 14, 1973(1973-05-14) (aged 79)
Occupation(s)	Financier, writer, Esperantist
Known for	Esperanto literature, poetry, novels, comedic sketches, Esperanto cabarets

Raymond Schwartz (8 April 1894 – 14 May 1973) was a French financier and a prominent figure in Esperanto literature, celebrated for his poetry, novels, and comedic sketches showcased in Parisian Esperanto cabarets.

Biography

Schwartz was born in Metz, Alsace-Lorraine, a region then under German rule. He possessed fluency in several languages, including French, German, Latin, and Greek. As an early advocate of Esperanto, he regarded the language as a means to foster international understanding. During World War I, he was drafted into the German military and served on the Eastern Front—a role that clashed with his pacifist ideals and influenced his dedication to the Esperanto cause. Following the war, he moved to Paris and pursued a banking career at a leading firm until his retirement.

Esperanto writings

During the interwar years, Schwartz contributed prolifically to publications such as Literatura Mondo and issued two poetry collections: Verdkata testamento (1926) and Stranga butiko (1931). His literary output is distinguished by inventive humor and clever linguistic playfulness, qualities also prominent in Prozo ridetanta (1928).

His 1930 novella Anni kaj Montmartre introduces an innovative storytelling approach by portraying the perspective of an innocent German woman living in Paris. Between 1933 and 1935, he held the editorial helm of the satirical monthly La Pirato, solidifying his reputation as a daring voice within Esperanto circles.

After World War II, Schwartz released his acclaimed novel Kiel akvo de l' rivero, a semi-autobiographical narrative following a Frenchman’s path from the Franco-German border through Berlin amid wartime turmoil. This work intertwines profound themes with humor and is widely regarded as his most important literary achievement.

Additionally, he penned a humor column named "Laŭ mia ridpunkto" for Sennacieca Revuo, incorporating wordplay such as puns and spoonerisms to captivate readers of the World Non-National Association’s cultural journal.

Cabaret

Though serious and accomplished in his professional life, Schwartz also expressed a lively persona within Esperanto cabarets by crafting sketches and embodying a jovial drunkard character beloved by Esperantists. In December 1920, he established the Esperanto cabaret La Verda Kato ("The Green Cat") on the outskirts of Paris in Montmartre, directing it until 1926. Later, he led La Bolanta Kaldrono ("The Boiling Cauldron") from 1936 to 1939 and co-founded Tri Koboldoj ("Three Imps") in 1949, which remained active until 1956. His theatrical works and publications were known for their wit, vitality, and occasional risqué humor—reflecting his conviction that "If people cannot laugh at themselves, they have not grown up."

Literary works

• Verdkata testamento (poetry collection published in 1926; reissued in 1930, 1974, and 1992) featuring an afterword by Reinhard Haupenthal.
• Prozo ridetanta (1928 prose collection), published by Esperantista Centra Librejo in Paris.
• Anni kaj Montmartre (1930 novel; illustrated by Raymond Laval; reprinted in 1974).
• La stranga butiko (1931 poetry volume; illustrated by Raymond Laval).
• La ĝoja podio (1949 poetry anthology), released by Esperantista Centra Librejo, Paris.
• Kia honto (1950 original short stories).
• Kiel akvo de l’ rivero (1963 novel; reprinted editions in 1987 and 1991).
• Selected tales included in anthologies such as 33 rakontoj (1964) and Trezoro: la Esperanta novelarto 1887-1986 (1989).
• Kun siaspeca spico (1971 humorous essays), compiling all "Laŭ mia ridpunkto" columns.
• Vole... Novele: aŭ kvindek jaroj da noveloj, 1920 - 1970 (1971 novella collection; reprinted in 1987).

Articles

• Ne kiel Meier: Invito al revizio de niaj konceptoj pri la konjugacio en Esperanto, Unuiĝo Franca por Esperanto, Parizo, 1930.
• Enkonduko de li en Cezaro Rossetti's Kredu min, sinjorino, Heroldo de Esperanto, Scheveningen, 1950.
• "Sen mistiko kontraŭ mistifiko" en La Zamenhofa Esperanto, red. Hendrik A. de Hoog, Régulo: La Laguna (1961).
• "Kompleta inventaro de la pasivaj participoj -ata kaj -ita kunligitaj kun la formo de la verbo esti en la verko La rabistoj," Parizo: 1968.
• "Lirica e praticità; Liriko kaj praktiko" en El la nova ĝardeno (Dal nuovo giardino), red. Dante Bertolini, Pedrazzini: Locarno, 1979.
• Eseoj "Esperantisto, ekesto kaj malapero" kaj "Esperanta eliksiro" en Nova Esperanta krestomatio, red. William Auld, Universala Esperanto-Asocio: Roterdamo: 1991.

Musical lyrics

• Paris toujours Paris (Parizo ĉiam Parizo). Francaj tekstoj de L. Bergen le Play, esperanta traduko fare de Raymond Schwartz; muziko de J. M. Hamonic. Omnium, Parizo: 1930.
• Ĉiu ĉiu. Francaj tekstoj de André Hornez, esperanta traduko de Raymond Schwartz; muziko komponita de Nicanor Molinare. Ed. Musicales Imperia, Parizo, 1948.
• Koro estas eta instrument sekreta. Esperantaj tekstoj de Raymond Schwartz, tradukitaj al pola kaj aranĝitaj de Zbigniew Sochacki. Muziko fare de Oktawian Kalmanowicz. Pola Esperanto Asocio, Lublin, 1960.

Literary appreciation and criticism

• Marie-Thérèse Lloancy, Esperanto et jeu de mots dans l’oeuvre de Raymond Schwartz, tezo ĉe Université René Descartes, Parizo, 1985
• Marie-Thérèse Lloancy, "Les jeux de mots de Raymond Schwartz dans trois ouvrages en Espéranto publiés par Stafeto" en Serta gratulatoria in honorem Juan Régulo. Universidad de La Laguna, Salamanca, 1986
• Jean Thierry, "Raymond Schwartz (1894-1973) la vortĵonglisto" en La stato kaj estonteco de la internacia lingvo Esperanto (protokoloj el simpozio en Prago), 1995
• Paul P. Gubbins, "Majstra muzikado: Berlino en romanoj de Varankin kaj Schwartz" en Lingva arto. Universala Esperanto-Asocio, Roterdamo: 1999

Biographical works

• Roger Bernard, Raymond Schwartz: lia vivo kaj verkaro. Kultura Centro Esperantista, La Chaux-de-Fonds: 1977.

External links

• Bibliografio pri Raymond Schwartz ĉe Germana Nacia Biblioteko
• Bibliografio pri Raymond Schwartz ĉe Kolekto pri Planlingvoj, Aŭstra Nacia Biblioteko
• La rido kaj vervo de Raymond Schwartz (Humuro kaj vigleco de Raymond Schwartz)
• La Stranga Butiko (Ironiaj poemoj)
• E-tekstoj de verkoj de Schwartz
• Mallonga biografio kaj bibliografio
• Biografio kaj rakonto "Nelojale"