Alas no*, and no quotes on the dedications, either. Oh, and I forgot to mention earlier: all four also have signed works from Voltaire, Algarotti and Maupertuis.
And strange that Charlotte didn't have more German books, quite unexpected.
It seems her pleading the cause of German literature was more a matter of theory and principle than of practical fondness, then. Otoh: this was definitely not the case for daughter Anna Amalia, who was also present during that fateful visit chez Fritz. Though it's worth pointing out that it did need Goethe's arrival in Weimar for Anna Amalia to switch from writing her personal letters in French to writing them in German. (Unless of course she was corresponding with a non-German.) But then, Anna Amalia was in her 30s when that happened. Charlotte perhaps was simply too old for her basic taste and habits to change, and at least unlike Fritz was ready to encourage German writers by patronage.)
BTW, that's another thing uncommented on in the FW anthology: that all of his children, not just Fritz, stuck with French as their primary language; FW's effort (and it was an effort for him, too, as French had been his first language as well) at making everyone speak, write and read German had exactly as much effect as his effort at making everyone into good Christians. As Fontane commented in Wanderungen about Heinrich: Fast scheint es, als ob er der deutschen Rede nicht mächtig gewesen sei, was als wunderbares Resultat einer Erziehung gelten mag, die nur das Deutsche gewollt und alles Französische verpönt hatte.
*When the pandemic times are finally over and the Eremitage is open again, I intend to visit anyway, then I'll try to both see for myself and aquire a proper catalogue.
Huh, the Maupertuis one surprised me. Possibly a result of his position as president?
By the way, speaking of women and Fritz and German literature - I recently read the entirety of Gottsched's letter, in which he describes his meetings with Fritz, and was surprised to find that Fritz repeatedly inquired after his wife and seemed almost more interested in her work than in Gottsched's! He even wanted to see some of it, which Gottsched brought with him for the next meeting, and Fritz commented that if he had more time, he would write to her. I just thought it was neat, given what you told us about her (and her love for Émilie, hee).
I guess so, plus, like Algarotti, he'd written a "explaining science to ladies" book.
Gottsched(s): that is fascinating! I only knew excerpts from this letter before, and certainly not that Fritz showed such repeated interest in die Gottschedin. Now I'm imaging how an encounter would have gone.
Fritz: So, Madame Gottsched, who among the French authors you've translated was your favourite? LG: Émilie du Chatelet. Want to read my poem to her? It's in the same volume as my Ode To MT, which contains the line "Oh MT, Princess Able To Speak Her People's Language"....
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Libraries
Date: 2021-04-14 08:52 pm (UTC)Of course. :D But also, aww. (No quotes, I suppose?)
And strange that Charlotte didn't have more German books, quite unexpected.
Any details on the women displayed at Wilhelmine's?
Re: Libraries
Date: 2021-04-15 06:07 am (UTC)And strange that Charlotte didn't have more German books, quite unexpected.
It seems her pleading the cause of German literature was more a matter of theory and principle than of practical fondness, then. Otoh: this was definitely not the case for daughter Anna Amalia, who was also present during that fateful visit chez Fritz. Though it's worth pointing out that it did need Goethe's arrival in Weimar for Anna Amalia to switch from writing her personal letters in French to writing them in German. (Unless of course she was corresponding with a non-German.) But then, Anna Amalia was in her 30s when that happened. Charlotte perhaps was simply too old for her basic taste and habits to change, and at least unlike Fritz was ready to encourage German writers by patronage.)
BTW, that's another thing uncommented on in the FW anthology: that all of his children, not just Fritz, stuck with French as their primary language; FW's effort (and it was an effort for him, too, as French had been his first language as well) at making everyone speak, write and read German had exactly as much effect as his effort at making everyone into good Christians. As Fontane commented in Wanderungen about Heinrich: Fast scheint es, als ob er der deutschen Rede nicht mächtig gewesen sei, was als wunderbares Resultat einer Erziehung gelten mag, die nur das Deutsche gewollt und alles Französische verpönt hatte.
*When the pandemic times are finally over and the Eremitage is open again, I intend to visit anyway, then I'll try to both see for myself and aquire a proper catalogue.
Re: Libraries
Date: 2021-04-15 05:52 pm (UTC)By the way, speaking of women and Fritz and German literature - I recently read the entirety of Gottsched's letter, in which he describes his meetings with Fritz, and was surprised to find that Fritz repeatedly inquired after his wife and seemed almost more interested in her work than in Gottsched's! He even wanted to see some of it, which Gottsched brought with him for the next meeting, and Fritz commented that if he had more time, he would write to her. I just thought it was neat, given what you told us about her (and her love for Émilie, hee).
Re: Libraries
Date: 2021-04-16 05:15 am (UTC)I guess so, plus, like Algarotti, he'd written a "explaining science to ladies" book.
Gottsched(s): that is fascinating! I only knew excerpts from this letter before, and certainly not that Fritz showed such repeated interest in die Gottschedin. Now I'm imaging how an encounter would have gone.
Fritz: So, Madame Gottsched, who among the French authors you've translated was your favourite?
LG: Émilie du Chatelet. Want to read my poem to her? It's in the same volume as my Ode To MT, which contains the line "Oh MT, Princess Able To Speak Her People's Language"....
Re: Libraries
Date: 2021-04-16 05:43 am (UTC)