author
Wilhelm Bode
1862–1922
A teacher, publisher, and writer deeply devoted to Goethe, he became known in Germany as “Goethe-Bode.” His work grew out of literary scholarship as well as social activism, especially in the abstinence movement.
1 Audiobook
Goethes Lebenskunst
by Wilhelm Bode
About the author
Born in Hornhausen on March 30, 1862, Wilhelm Friedrich Bode was a German teacher, writer, publisher, and publicist. Standard biographical references identify him as a Goethe researcher, and German-language sources note that he was often called “Goethe-Bode” to distinguish him from the better-known art historian Wilhelm von Bode.
Bode spent much of his career in Weimar, a city closely tied to Goethe’s life and legacy. Alongside his literary work, he was active in the abstinence movement, which shaped part of his public profile as an educator and activist as well as an author.
He died in Weimar on October 24, 1922. Among the works associated with him are studies of Goethe’s life and relationships, reflecting the strong focus that defined his writing and reputation.