Christiane Singer

Christiane Singer (1943–2007) was an Austrian writer, essayist, and novelist of Christian sensitivity infused with Oriental wisdom. Born in Marseille to parents who fled Hungary and Austria due to Jewish persecution, she studied literature at the University of Aix-en-Provence, earning a doctorate. In 1968, she met Count Georg von Thurn-Valsassina, marrying him in 1973 and moving to his medieval castle Rastenberg near Vienna, where she raised their two sons. The castle inspired her essay "Rastenberg" (1996). She organized personal development seminars influenced by Karlfried Graf Dürckheim's teachings and lectured at universities in Basel and Friburg.

Singer's work focused on spirituality without moral lessons or dogmatism, earning her several awards: Prix des libraires (1979), Prix Albert Camus (1989), and Prix de la langue française (2006). Diagnosed with cancer in 2006, she wrote a diary published posthumously as "Derniers fragments d'un long voyage." She passed away in Vienna in 2007. A documentary about her life, "Passion - Hommage à Christiane Singer," was released in 2011.

Her notable works include novels like "Les Cahiers d'une hypocrite" (1965) and essays such as "Les Âges de la vie" (1983), reflecting her exploration of spirituality and personal growth.