Jean Paul Richter

German novelist and humorist, born in the 18th century

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About

Johann Paul Friedrich Richter, known by the pen name Jean Paul, is a major German Romantic novelist and humorist. Born in 1763 in Wunsiedel, he studied theology at Leipzig before dedicating himself to literature. His breakthrough novel 'Die unsichtbare Loge' (1793) gained critical recognition, followed by 'Hesperus' (1795), his greatest popular success. His most ambitious work, 'Titan' (1800-1803), and 'Flegeljahre' (1804-05) are regarded as his masterpieces. He moved to Weimar in 1798 and settled in Bayreuth in 1804. His style is marked by digressions, fertile imagination, and a blend of humor and sentimentality. He influenced later writers such as E.T.A. Hoffmann.

Major works

  • Die unsichtbare Loge (1793)novel
  • Hesperus (1795)novel
  • Siebenkäs (1796)novel
  • Titan (1800)novel
  • Flegeljahre (1804)novel

Key milestones

  • 1798Moved to Weimar and befriended Herder.
  • 1801Married Caroline Mayer.
  • 1808Awarded a pension by the prince-primate, securing financial independence.

Themes

Humor and sentimentalityImagination and digressionEducationAestheticsRomanticism

Sources: britannica.com · id.loc.gov · oxfordreference.com