author
Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel
1741–1796
A sharp-eyed writer of the late Enlightenment, he mixed satire, social criticism, and moral reflection in books that stayed popular long after his death. He is also remembered for unusually early arguments about women's status and education.
1 Audiobook
Über die bürgerliche Verbesserung der Weiber
by Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel
About the author
Born in Gerdauen in East Prussia on January 31, 1741, he studied at the University of Königsberg, where he came into contact with Immanuel Kant. Although he first pursued theology, his career moved into public service, and he later became a respected civic official in Königsberg while writing on the side.
His books blend humor, sentiment, and close observation of human behavior. Among his best-known works are Lebensläufe nach aufsteigender Linie and Über die Ehe, writings that show both his playful style and his interest in society, character, and everyday life.
He died in Königsberg on April 23, 1796. Today he is often seen as more than a satirist: readers and scholars also value him as an Enlightenment social critic whose comments on marriage, society, and the position of women were strikingly forward-looking for his time.