»Paradies am Isonzo«

The work of Heinrich Moritz Penn (1838–1918) in Gorizia

Abstract

The article discusses the work of the Carniolan literary author and journalist Heinrich Moritz Penn in Gorizia, where he edited the German newspapers Görzer Wochenblatt and Görzer Zeitung between September 1867 and April 1869. Apart from being an editor, Penn was also a prolific literary author in Gorizia. He primarily published his writings from that period in the supplements of the above-mentioned newspapers. Penn’s life in the provincial capital on the Soča/Isonzo River is placed in his wider life framework, and the article also sheds light on the background of his arrival in Gorizia and his social circle in the city, especially his connections with the influential family of the local industrialists Ritter-Záhony, one of the pillars of the German cultural activity in Gorizia. Finally, the article also discusses Penn’s national identification and, based on the editorial orientation of both Gorizia newspapers, describes his attitude towards the Slovenes.