Viennese writer and journalist Richard A. Bermann came to fame under the pseudonym Arnold Höllriegel. One of the leading journalists in the German-speaking world, he published articles in the Theater-Courier, Die Woche, the Berliner Tageblatt, the Vossische Zeitung and, particularly after 1918, Der Friede and Der Neue Tag. Bermann had a broad range of interests and travelled extensively throughout the world. He became known for his articles in Der Tag and other journals, which included his observations on places such as Egypt, Palestine and Brazil. Bermann was influenced by Karl Kraus, with a style which was critical, precise and occasionally biting. 

Of his literary works, the novels Das Urwaldschiff and Die Derwischtrommel achieved particularly high print runs. After the National Socialist takeover Bermann was dismissed from the Berliner Tageblatt because of his Jewish heritage, and his writings were banned by the Reichsschrifttumskammer (Reich Chamber of Literature). Together with Prince Hubertus zu Loewenstein, Bermann developed the idea of establishing a German academy in exile, and right up to his death he remained intensively engaged in the work of the American Guild for German Cultural Freedom. After numerous escape attempts and stops along the way, he reached London in June 1938 and from there emigrated to New York. Among Bermann’s acquaintances were writers such as Leo Perutz as well as the actress Elisabeth Bergner.

Selected works:
Das Seil. Eine Ehegeschichte (novel, 1941)
Das Urwaldschiff. Ein Buch vom Amazonasstrom (novel, 1927)
Die Derwischtrommel. Das Leben des erwarteten Mahdi (novel, 1931)
Amerika-Bilderbuch (2012)

Further reading:
Richard A. Bermann alias Arnold Höllriegel: Österreicher – Demokrat – Weltbürger. Eine Ausstellung des Deutschen Exilarchivs 1933-1945. München 1995