Malwida von Meysenbug

Born in Kassel in 1816, she became known as a German writer whose best-known work is Memoirs of an Idealist, first published in 1869. Her life was closely tied to the democratic movements of the 19th century, and after the revolutions of 1848 she spent many years in exile.

Her writing grew out of lived experience: politics, travel, and a wide circle of artists and thinkers. She is often remembered not only for her books, but also for her friendships with major cultural figures including Richard Wagner and Friedrich Nietzsche.

Later in life she was part of an international literary world in Rome, where younger writers such as Romain Rolland encountered her. She died in 1903, leaving behind memoirs and essays that offer a personal window into the intellectual and political life of her century.