Theodor Fontane
Born	30 December 1819 Neuruppin
Died	20 September 1898 Berlin

Theodor Fontane (December 30, 1819 – September 20, 1898) was a 19th-century German novelist and poet. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Neuruppin is a town in Brandenburg, Germany. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ... A poet is someone who writes poetry. ...

Youth

Fontane was born in Neuruppin into a Huguenot family. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to an apothecary, his father's profession, subsequently becoming an apothecary himself, and in 1839, at the age of 20, wrote his first work (Heinrichs IV. erste Liebe, now lost). His further education was in Leipzig where he came into contact with the progressives of the Vormärz. Fontane's first published work, "Sibling Love," appeared in the Berlin Figaro in December 1839. His biographer Gordon A. Craig in Theodor Fontane: Literature and History in the Bismarck Reich (Oxford University Press, 1999) observes that this work gave few indications of his promise as a gifted writer: "Although the theme of incest, which was to occupy Fontane on later occasions, is touched upon here, the mawkishness of the tale... is equaled by the lameness of its plot and the inertness of the style in which it is told, and [the characters] Clärchen and her brother are both so colorless that no one could have guessed that their creator had a future as a writer." In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name of Huguenots came to apply to members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, historically known as the French Calvinists. ... Link title Interior of an apothecarys shop. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... [] (Sorbian/Lusatian: Lipsk) is the largest city in the Federal State (Bundesland) of Saxony in Germany. ... The German Confederation (German Deutscher Bund) was a loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to organize the surviving states of the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806. ...

His first job as apothecary was in Dresden after which he returned to his father's shop, now in the provincial town of Letschin in the Oderbruch region. Fleeing the provincial atmosphere there, Fontane published articles in the Leipzig newspaper Die Eisenbahn and translated Shakespeare. In 1843, he joined a literary club called Tunnel über der Spree (i.e. Tunnel over the river Spree) in Berlin where he came into contact with many of the most renowned German writers such as Theodor Storm, Joseph von Eichendorff and Gottfried Keller. Dresden (Sorbian: Drježdźany; etymologically from Old Sorbian Drežďany, meaning people of the riverside forest) is the capital city of the German Federal Free State of Saxony. ... The Oderbruch is a region along the river Oder between the towns Oderberg and Bad Freienwalde in the north and Lebus in the south. ... William Shakespeare—born April 1564; baptised April 26, 1564; died April 23, 1616 (O.S.), May 3, 1616 (N.S.)—has a reputation as the greatest of all writers in English. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Tunnel über der Spree was a German, Berlin-based literary society. ... The Spree (Slavic Å preva or Å preja, older form Sprevja, Sorbish Sprowja) is a river in Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin, Germany. ... Theodor Storm (1886) Theodor Woldsen Storm (September 14, 1817 in Husum, Germany - July 4, 1888 in Hademarschen, Germany) studied and practiced law in northern Germany. ... Freiherr Joseph von Eichendorff (March 10, 1788 - November 26, 1857), German lyricist and narrator. ... Gottfried Keller (July 19, 1819 – July 15, 1890) was a Swiss writer who is best known as the master of the Novelle. ...

Newspaper writer and critic

Walk of Ideas (Germany) - built in 2006 to commemorate Johannes Gutenberg's invention, c. 1445, of movable printing type.

In 1844 Fontane enrolled in the Prussian army and set out on the first of numerous journeys to England which fostered his interest in Old English ballads, a form he began to imitate then. At that time he became engaged to his future wife, Emilie Rouanet-Kummer, who he had first met when still at school. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (480x640, 43 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Book User:Sadi Carnot Walk of Ideas Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (480x640, 43 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Book User:Sadi Carnot Walk of Ideas Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... The Walk of Ideas is a set of six sculptures made on the on the occasion of 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany in Berlin unveiled on April 21, 2006 at Bebelplatz square near the Unterden Linden in front of Humboldt University. ... Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg (c. ... Flag of Prussia (1894 - 1918) The Kingdom of Prussia existed from 1701 until 1918, and from 1871 was the leading kingdom of the German Empire, comprising in its last form almost two-thirds of the area of the Empire. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Old English poetry is based upon one system of verse construction which was used for all poems. ...

He briefly participated in the revolutionary events of 1848. In 1849 he quit his job as an apothecary and became a full-time journalist and writer. In order to support his family he took a job as a writer for the Prussian intelligence agency Centralstelle für Preußenangelegenheiten which was meant to influence the press towards a German national cause. Again he specialised in British affairs, and the agency sent him as correspondent to London for a couple of years where he was later joined by his wife and two sons. While still in London he quit his government job and, on his return to Berlin, became editor of the conservative Kreuzzeitung. —Alexis de Tocqueville, Recollections The European Revolutions of 1848, in some countries known as the Spring of Nations, were the bloody consequences of a variety of changes that had been taking place in Europe in the first half of the 19th century. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... An intelligence agency is a governmental organization devoted to gathering of information by means of espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of the United Kingdom and the largest city of England (strangely, England has no constitutional existence within the United Kingdom, and therefore cannot be said to have a capital). ... The Kreuzzeitung (more precisely Neue Preußische Zeitung) was a German newspaper started in the 19th century. ...

London

His books about Britain include Ein Sommer in London (1854); Aus England, Studien und Briefe (1860) and Jenseits des Tweed, Bilder und Briefe aus Schottland (1860). At the period, and following the fashion of Walter Scott, traditional British stories were still en vogue on the continent. His Gedichte (1851) and ballads Männer und Helden (1860) tell of Britain's glories in days gone by. Portrait of Sir Walter Scott, by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time. ...

Back in Germany, Fontane became particularly interested in the Mark Brandenburg region. He was especially proud of its past achievements and delighted in the growth of its capital city, Berlin. His fascination with the countryside surrounding Berlin may be seen in his delightfully picturesque Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg (1862-1882, 5 vols.) in which he successfully transposed his former fascination with British historical matters to his native soil.   (Lower Sorbian: Bramborska; Upper Sorbian: Braniborska) is one of Germanys sixteen Bundesländer (federal states). ...

Prussian War

In 1870, he quit his job at the Kreuzzeitung and became drama critic for the liberal Vossische Zeitung, a job he kept until retirement. He had already written about Prussia's war against Denmark in Der schleswig-holsteinische Krieg im Jahre 1864 (1866) and the Austro-Prussian War in Der deutsche Krieg von 1866 (1869). He proceeded to the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, and, being taken prisoner at Vaucouleurs, he remained in French captivity for three months. His experiences there are set down in Kriegsgefangen Erlebtes 1870 (1871); subsequently he published his observations on the campaign in Der Krieg gegen Frankreich 1870-71 (1874-1876). 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ... The Vossische Zeitung (more precisely: (Königlich Privilegierte) Berlinische Zeitung von Staats- und Gelehrten Sachen) was the well known liberal German newspaper that was published in Berlin (1721-1934). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, Hanover and some minor German States (formerly as the German Confederation) Prussia, Italy and some minor German States Strength 600,000 Austrians and German allies 500,000 Prussians and German allies 300,000 Italians Casualties 40,000+ dead or wounded 37,000 dead... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000[] 550,000[] Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [] 100,000 dead or wounded 200,000 civilian [] The Franco-Prussian War... Vaucouleurs is a historic town and commune in France, in the département of Meuse. ...

Later years

At the ripe age of 57 Fontane finally took to what he would be remembered for, the novel. His fine historical romance Vor dem Sturm (1878) was followed by a series of novels of modern life, notably L'Adultera (1882), a book about adultery which was considered so risqué that it took Fontane two years to find a publisher. In his novels Frau Jenny Treibel, Irrungen, Wirrungen, and Effi Briest (1894), he found his very own tone, yielding insights into the lives of the nobility as well as the "common man"; his achievement there was later described as poetic realism. In Der Stechlin (1899), his last finished novel, Fontane adapted the realistic methods and social criticism of contemporary French fiction to the conditions of Prussian life. A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the author. ... See also: 1877 in literature, other events of 1878, 1879 in literature, list of years in literature. ... See also: 1881 in literature, other events of 1882, 1883 in literature, list of years in literature. ... Adultery is generally defined as consensual sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than his or her lawful spouse. ... One of the most famous German novels of all time, Effi Briest (1894) is realist Theodor Fontanes masterpiece. ... See also: 1893 in literature, other events of 1894, 1895 in literature, list of years in literature. ... // Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... Poetic realism was a film movement in France leading up to World War II. More a tendency than a movement, Poetic Realism is not strongly unified like Soviet Montage or French Impressionism. ... See also: 1898 in literature, other events of 1899, 1900 in literature, list of years in literature. ...

Famous Quote

In a letter to Sigmund Freud, Fontane wrote, "It seems my modest wishes are not to be granted." He was speaking about a psychological inquest, and the letter contained abuses about Freud's refusal. Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1856 – September 23, 1939; IPA pronunciation: []) was an Austrian neurologist and the co-founder of the psychoanalytic school of psychology. ... Psychoanalysis is a family of psychological theories and methods based on the pioneering work of Sigmund Freud. ...

Works

• Geschwisterliebe, 1839
• Zwei Post-Stationen, 1845
• James Monmouth, 1854
• Tuch und Locke, 1854
• Goldene Hochzeit, 1854
• Vor dem Sturm, 1878
• Grete Minde, 1880
• Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg, 1880
• Elternklipp, 1881
• L'Adultera, 1882
• Schach von Wuthenow, 1882
• Graf Petöfy, 1884
• Unterm Birnbaum, 1885
• Cécile, 1887
• Irrungen, Wirrungen, 1888
• Stine, 1890
• Quitt, 1891
• Unwiederbringlich, 1891
• Frau Jenny Treibel, 1892
• Meine Kinderjahre, 1894
• Effi Briest, 1896
• Die Poggenpuhls, 1896
• Der Stechlin, 1899
• Mathilde Möhring, 1906

James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth James Crofts, later James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and of Buccleuch (April 9, 1649 – July 15, 1685) was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter, who had followed him into continental exile after... Unwiederbringlich (1892) is one of realist Theodor Fontanes mature German novels. ... One of the most famous German novels of all time, Effi Briest (1894) is realist Theodor Fontanes masterpiece. ...

Poems

• Archibald Douglas
• Die Brück' am Tay
• John Maynard
• Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland
• Aber es bleibt auf dem alten Fleck
• Ausgang
• Gorm Grymme

Admiral Archibald Douglas, in 1902. ...

Reference

• Craig, Gordon Theodor Fontane : Literature and History in the Bismarck Reich, New York : Oxford University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-19-512837-0.

Gordon Alexander Craig (November 13, 1913 - November 2, 2005) was a Scottish-born U.S historian of German, Swiss and of diplomatic history. ...

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Theodor Fontane

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Theodor Fontane

• Trials and Tribulations, one of Fontane's works (English)
• Works by Theodor Fontane at Project Gutenberg (German)
• Collection of links

This article includes material adapted from Fontane's biography (German)