Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843)
Germany

"I am mortal, born to love and suffer."

Born and educated in Germany, Hölderlin began writing poems at the age of 14, his first poems were published in Stäudlin's "Musenalmanach fürs Jahr 1792" in 1791. A the university of Tübingen, he studied theology and became great friends with Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel. Living in Frankfurt in 1793, he lived as a private tutor and subsequently fell in love with his employer's wife, Susette Gontard. He met Schiller at this time, who took the liberty of publishing several of his works. His Fragment von Hyperion in the "Thalia" (1794). 1798, he left Frankfurt to pursue a literary career. In Hamburg, he began the second volume of Hyperion, and a tragedy, Der Tod des Empedokles (1799), as well as a number of philosophical essays. Upon hearing of Susette's death in 1802, Hölderlin's sanity began to wane. In 1807, he was declared incurably insane, and spent the rest of his life in Tübingen.

Criticism

Hölderlin's poetry fluctuated between classicism and romanticism. He was influenced by Schilller and Greek poetry. He was never celebrated during his time. In fact it was not until the early 20th century that critics declared him Germany's greatest poet after Goethe. Notwithstanding, his contributions to poetry, as well as philosophy, are quite significant. His inclination towards nature, especially his admiration for the stars, as well as his excessive use of classical diction and syntax, he is regarded as the link between Weimar Classicism and Jena Romanticism.

Works

Hyperion (1797-1799)
Der Tod des Empedokles (1799)

Sources:
"Friedrich Hölderlin." Pegasos- Literature Related Resources. Kuusankosken Kaupunginkirjasto, Finland. 1999 < http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/>

Kalbhenn, Sven. Hölderlin Homepage. 26 April 1998
<http://www.hoelderlin-gesellschaft.de/english/index_e.html>

Hölderlin Homepage
http://www.hoelderlin-gesellschaft.de/english/index_e.html