Germans acquire Brecht letters

Germany’s Academy of Arts took possession Tuesday of a trove of letters and other personal effects once owned by Bertolt Brecht that officials hope will shed new light on the playwright’s life.

The material, previously part of the private collection of a deceased Swiss businessman, includes manuscripts, notes, bills and photos. The material also includes 140 letters from Brecht and 220 received by him.

The largely unpublished collection, dating from Brecht’s years in exile during and after the Nazi era, includes 36 letters and three telegrams that he wrote to his wife, Helene Weigel, between 1944 and 1947.

The Academy of Arts said it planned to present the collection, which it bought for an undisclosed sum, in April.