Rahel Varnhagen

Laura Deiulio (Christopher Newport University)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.1: German-language Writing and Culture: Germany, 500-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

Born 19 May 1771
Died 7 Mar 1833
Activity 1791-1833

Places

Born in Germany
Active in Germany

Activities

Primary

Essayist
Letter-writer/ Diarist
Patron

Resources

Varnhagen's Works

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Many scholars consider Rahel Levin Varnhagen to be the most interesting German woman intellectual prior to 1900. During the German Romantic period, she maintained contacts with most of the leading figures of her day. The gatherings she hosted in her home, particularly prior to the French occupation of Berlin in 1806 and again in the 1820s, became a well-known feature of the Berlin intellectual scene. In addition, she wrote thousands of letters that offer a wealth of cultural insights. Her comments on literature, philosophy, history, education, the theater and women’s rights, among many other topics, are not only a rich source for social historians but also possess considerable literary and philosophical value.

Rahel published excerpts from her letters during her lifetime, and more of

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1577 words

Citation: Deiulio, Laura. "Rahel Varnhagen". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 February 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12409, accessed 21 November 2024.]