
A careful portrait unfolds the life of a remarkable 18th‑century German writer, beginning with his birth in a modest village near Biberach and the influence of his pastor‑father. The biography paints his family’s pious atmosphere, the early loss of inheritance, and the steadfast support of his gentle wife and children, all of which shaped his quiet, measured character.
The narrative then follows his schooling, where a natural curiosity for languages, mathematics, and history emerged alongside a deepening love for the classics. Early poems in Latin and German reveal a budding talent nurtured in the quiet hours before dawn, even as his father’s strict rules forced him to hide his literary pursuits. These formative experiences set the stage for the writer’s later achievements, offering listeners a vivid glimpse into the roots of his enduring literary voice.
Language
de
Duration
~4 hours (245K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by richyfourtytwo, Hagen von Eitzen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-01-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1789–1862
Best known as one of the earliest biographers of Goethe, this German writer helped shape how later readers understood the great figures of classical literature. His work moved between biography, theology, and scholarship, giving it both literary charm and a strong documentary feel.
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