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Berthold AuerbachGerman-Jewish poet
Date of Birth: 28.02.1812
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Berthold Auerbach
Berthold Auerbach was a German-Jewish poet who had a significant influence on the work of Eugène Sue. He was born into a Jewish family and began his education in a Jewish school. After completing his studies there, he attended a gymnasium in Karlsruhe. He finished the gymnasium course in Stuttgart and from 1832 to 1835, he studied law, philosophy, and history in Tübingen, Munich, and Heidelberg.
Early Life and Imprisonment
During his time as a student, Auerbach was involved in the movements taking place among the student community. As a result, he was sentenced to imprisonment in the Hohenasperg fortress and spent several months there. In the same year, he published his first work, "Das Judentum und die neueste Litteratur" (Stuttgart, 1836). This was followed by a series of novels about the lives of Jews, collectively titled "Das Ghetto." Some of these novels were also published separately, including "Spinoza" (Mannheim, 1837) and "Dichter und Kaufmann" (Mannheim, 1839).
Literary Career
Auerbach's literary career took off with the publication of "Der gebildete Bürger, Buch für den denkenden Mittelstand" (Karlsruhe, 1842), which marked the beginning of a new direction in his writing. This was followed by the highly successful "Schwarzwälder Dorfgeschichten" (Mannheim, 1843), a collection of stories from everyday rural life that showcased Auerbach's skills as a keen observer and skilled psychologist. These stories, filled with charm and humor, were translated into almost all European languages.
Later Works and Legacy
Auerbach continued to write prolifically in the years following 1845. Some of his notable works include "Schrift und Volk. Grundzüge der volkstümlichen Litteratur, angeschlossen an eine Charakteristik I. P. Hebels" (Leipzig, 1846), "Deutsche Abende" (Mannheim, 1850), "Der Wahrspruch" (Leipzig, 1856), and "Neues Leben" (Mannheim, 1851). In addition to his fiction, Auerbach also wrote critical works, with his best-known work in this area being "Goethe und die Erzählungskunst" (Stuttgart, 1861).
In his later years, Auerbach remained active in his literary pursuits. He continued to produce numerous works, including "Das Landhaus am Rhein" (Stuttgart, 1869), "Waldfried, eine vaterländische Familiengeschichte" (Stuttgart, 1874), and "Brigitta" (Stuttgart, 1880). Auerbach passed away on February 8, 1882, in Cannes. His body was transported to Nordstetten, his birthplace, and laid to rest there on February 15 of the same year.
