Hans Weigel (pseudonyms: Sven Lundbor, Julius Hansen) was journalist was born in Vienna, where he attended the Gymnasium. From 1926 to 1928 he studied law at the Universities of Hamburg and Berlin. In 1928 he was employed by the magazine Die Literarische Welt, Berlin, and then he worked for Paul Zsolnay Publishing House, Vienna. After 1933 he was a freelance writer.
In March 1938 Weigel emigrated to Switzerland, where he settled in Zurich, and then in Basel, from 1939 to 1945. Weigel adapted plays by Nestroy and Goldoni for the Schauspielhause Zurich, and wrote scripts for the Cabaret Kaktus. Weigel was a member of the Free Austrian Movement.
In July 1945, he returned to Vienna and worked as a journalist, cabaret performer, theater critic and radio commentator. Weigel was a versatile author, who wrote short stories, plays, novels, biographies, and TV film scripts. He also translated works of French authors, including Moliere, discovered and sponsored young Austrian authors, but also dealt critically with contemporary use of language.
Hans Weigel was a member of the Protective League of Austrian Writers, and Austrian Writers Union. He was awarded the Cross of Honor for Science and Art 1st Class (1966); honorary member of the General Union of Austrian Book Dealers (1968), and the Prize of City of Vienna for Journalism (1972).
Weigel’s main works include Barabbas oder Der fuenfzigste Geburtstag; Der gruene Stren: Utopischer Gegenwartsroman, and Das himmlische Leben (all three published in Vienna, 1946); Unvollendete Symphonie (Innsbruck, 1951). They were followed by his plays Das wissen die Goetter (premiere Gratz, 1952); Der eingebildete Doktor (premiere, Vienna, 1956). His Tausendundeine Premiere: Wiener Theater 1946-1961 was published in Vienna, 1961; Goetterfunken mit Fehlzuendung: Ein Antilesebuch (Zurich, Stuttgart, 1970); Die Leiden der jungen Woerter: Ein Antiwoerterbuch (Zurich, Munich, 1974); Der exakte Schwindel oder Der Untergang des Abendlandes (Graz, Vienna, Koeln, 1977).