Wilhelm Raabe (; September 8, 1831November 15, 1910) was a German novelist. His early works were published under the pseudonym of Jakob Corvinus.

Biography He was born in Eschershausen (then in the Duchy of Brunswick, now in the Holzminden District). After attending gymnasia in Holzminden and Wolfenbüttel, he entered a bookstore in Magdeburg as apprentice in 1849. He used this opportunity for wide reading and enriched himself with the tales and folklore of his own and other countries. He remained an apprentice until 1854.

Tiring of the routine of business, he then studied philosophy at Berlin (1855–1857). While a student at that university, under his pseudonym he published his first work, The Chronicle of Sparrow Lane (German: Die Chronik der Sperlingsgasse). This book, which contains sketches of life among the German bourgeoisie, quickly became popular.

With this encouragement, Raabe gave up his studies and devoted himself entirely to literary work. He returned to Wolfenbüttel, and then lived (1862–1870) in Stuttgart. Then he again returned to Brunswick and remained active until the end of the century, publishing upwards of 30 novels and a number of short stories and sketches. He died in 1910 and was buried in Braunschweig Main Cemetery.

Work

Raabe's life work may be divided into three periods. During the first, he wrote with a light touch, producing a series of pictures of German life from the abundance of his imagination and experience, among which are: Die Chronik der Sperlingsgasse (1856) Die Kinder von Finkenrode (1859) Unser Herrgotts Kanzlei (1862)

The influence of the pessimism of Schopenhauer is evident during the second period. Representative works of this period are: Der Hungerpastor (1864) Abu Telfan (1867) Der Schüdderump (1870) These three works are sometimes referred to as a trilogy. While they are independent of each other in substance, they do represent a distinct epoch in the life of Raabe.

During the third period of the novelist's life his works no longer show this pessimistic strain. A genial humor pervades them, reminiscent of Dickens, though they frequently deal with serious subjects. Horacker (1876) perhaps best represents this tendency, and has been cited as his masterpiece. Der Dräumling (1872), and Deutscher Mondschein (1873), also come under this head. Of his numerous later works Das Odfeld (1889) and The Birdsong Papers (Die Akten des Vogelsangs, 1895) seemed to be most read. Kloster Lugau (1894) and Hastenbeck (1899) also belong to this period.

Raabe's early works were influenced to some extent by Jean Paul. Later he shows evidences of having read Dickens and Thackeray.

His estimation by the German people was especially shown at the celebration of his 70th birthday in 1901. Beginning in 1965, the critical edition of Raabe's complete works was published as Sämtliche Werke (Braunschweiger Ausgabe) commissioned by the Braunschweigischen Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft and edited by Karl Hoppe.

Works

Die Chronik der Sperlingsgasse, 1857 Ein Frühling, Der Weg zum Lachen, 1857 Die alte Universität, Der Student von Wittenberg, Weihnachtsgeister, Lorenz Scheibenhart, Einer aus der Menge, 1858 Die Kinder von Finkenrode, Der Junker von Denow, Wer kann es wenden? 1859 Aus dem Lebensbuch des Schulmeisterleins Michel Haas, Ein Geheimnis, 1860 Auf dunkelm Grunde, Die schwarze Galeere, Der heilige Born, Nach dem großen Kriege, 1861 Unseres Herrgotts Kanzlei, Das letzte Recht, 1862 Eine Grabrede aus dem Jahre 1609, Die Leute aus dem Walde, Holunderblüte, Die Hämelschen Kinder, 1863 Der Hungerpastor, Keltische Knochen, 1864 Else von der Tanne, Drei Federn, 1865 Die Gänse von Bützow, Sankt Thomas, Gedelöcke, 1866 Abu Telfan; oder Heimkehr aus dem Mondgebirge, 1867 Theklas Erbschaft, 1868 Im Siegeskranze, 1869 Der Schüdderump, Der Marsch nach Hause, Des Reiches Krone, 1870 Der Dräumling, 1872 Deutscher Mondschein, Christoph Pechlin, 1873 Meister Autor oder Die Geschichten vom versunkenen Garten, Höxter und Corvey, 1874 Frau Salome, Vom alten Proteus, Eulenpfingsten, 1875 Die Innerste, Der gute Tag, Horacker, 1876 Auf dem Altenteil, 1878 Alte Nester, Wunnigel, 1879 Deutscher Adel, 1880 Das Horn von Wanza, 1881 Fabian und Sebastian, 1882 Prinzessin Fisch, 1883 Villa Schönow, Pfisters Mühle, Zum wilden Mann, Ein Besuch, 1884 Unruhige Gäste, 1885 Im alten Eisen, 1887 Das Odfeld, 1888 Der Lar, 1889 Stopfkuchen, 1891 Gutmanns Reisen, 1892 Kloster Lugau, 1894 Die Akten des Vogelsangs, 1896 Hastenbeck, 1899 Altershausen (fragment, 1902; published 1911)

Raabe the painter

Raabe also had a less known talent for painting.Hans-Werner Peter, Wilhelm Raabe. Der Dichter in seinen Federzeichnungen und Skizzen, Rosenheimer Raritäten Approximately 600 of his works exist, partially in private ownership of his descendants or with the Braunschweig Museum.

Notes

External links

Works by Raabe at Projekt Gutenberg-DE