The Lovers | |
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(1749-1832) is regarded by many as a German literary genius. Brought up in Frankfurt-aam-Main, he studied law in Leipzig and Strassburg. In 1774 he wrote the popular Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (The Sorrows of Young Werther), which caused a sensation. From 1775 on he lived in Weimar, where he met and fell in love with Charlotte von Stein, inspiration for the heroine of his play Iphigenie auf Tauris (1787) and Natalie in his Wilhelm Meister novels. He spent two years (1786-88) in Italy, then returned to Weimar. In 1808 he produced the first part of his most famous work, Faust (1808; part II, 1832). He also wrote works on botany and biology, an autobiography, Dichtung und Wahrheit, and a collection of verses, West-Östlicher Divan (1819), among many other writings. In addition, his official duties at the Weimar court included director of the war department, adviser to the duke, and director mines and all scientific and artistic institutions, including the theatre. |
Charlotte von Stein
(née von Schardt) (1742-1827) was the eldest daughter of Weimar's master of court ceremonies. In 1758 she became lady-in-waiting to the duchess, Anna Amalia, and in 1764 married Friedrich, Freiherr von Stein, equerry to Duke Karl August. In 1775--the mother of seven children--she met Goethe. The following year she began an intimate friendship with him that lasted some 13 years. An accomplished singer and artist, she was also well read, and in 1776 wrote a humorous piece, Rimo, on Goethe and the women of the court. Their friendship ended after Goethe's two year visit to Italy without her. Four years later, in 1792, she wrote a prose tragedy, Dido (published 1867), which contains many references to her break with him. |