Luise Gottsched

Luise Gottsched
Born	(1713-04-11)11 April 1713 Danzig
Died	Leipzig
Nationality	German
Spouse	Johann Christoph Gottsched

Luise Adelgunde Victorie Gottsched (born Kulmus, 11 April 1713 – 26 June 1762) was a German poet, playwright, essayist, and translator, and is often considered one of the founders of modern German theatrical comedy.

Biography

She was born in Danzig (Gdańsk), Royal Prussia (a fief of the Crown of Poland). During her lifetime, she was considered one of Europe's leading intellects and one of the most intelligent women of the time.

She became acquainted with her husband, the poet and author Johann Christoph Gottsched, when she sent him some of her own works. He apparently was impressed, and a long correspondence eventually led to marriage. After marriage, Luise continued to write and publish, and was also her husband's faithful helper in his literary labours.

Her uncle was the anatomist Johann Adam Kulmus.

Works

She wrote several popular comedies, of which Das Testament is the best, and translated The Spectator (9 volumes, 1739–1743), Alexander Pope's Rape of the Lock (1744) and other English and French works. After her death her husband edited her Sämtliche kleinere Gedichte with a memoir (1763).

Sources

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