Franz Pfeiffer
Encyclopedia
Franz Pfeiffer was a Swiss
literary scholar.
He was born in Solothurn
as a Bürger
(citizen) of Bettlach
. After studying at the University of Munich he went to Stuttgart
, where in 1846 he became librarian to the royal library
. In 1856, Pfeiffer founded the Germanic, a quarterly periodical devoted to German antiquarian research. In 1857, having established himself as one of the foremost authorities on German medieval literature and philology
, he was appointed professor of these subjects at the University of Vienna
; and in 1860 was made a member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. He died at Vienna.
Pfeiffer's most significant work is arguably the second volume of his Die deutschen Mystiker (German Mysticism). In this volume Pfeiffer collected the surviving German texts of the 14th Century mystic Meister Eckhart
, who was at that time largely forgotten. This publication of the German Eckhartian corpus led to the modern revival of interest in Eckhart. Though there was subsequent dispute as to how many of the texts in Pfeiffer's edition are genuinely by Eckhart, his edition remains the standard and classic reference. The early translators of Eckhart into English, Evans and Blakney, depended largely on Pfeiffer for their source material.
In his later years, he traveled regularly to Überlingen am Bodensee
to enjoy the waters at the city's spa.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
literary scholar.
He was born in Solothurn
Solothurn
The city of Solothurn is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.-Pre-roman settlement:...
as a Bürger
Bürgergemeinde
The Bürgergemeinde is a statutory corporation in public law in Switzerland...
(citizen) of Bettlach
Bettlach
Bettlach may refer to:*Bettlach, Switzerland*Bettlach, Haut-Rhin, in Alsace, France...
. After studying at the University of Munich he went to Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, where in 1846 he became librarian to the royal library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
. In 1856, Pfeiffer founded the Germanic, a quarterly periodical devoted to German antiquarian research. In 1857, having established himself as one of the foremost authorities on German medieval literature and philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
, he was appointed professor of these subjects at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
; and in 1860 was made a member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. He died at Vienna.
Pfeiffer's most significant work is arguably the second volume of his Die deutschen Mystiker (German Mysticism). In this volume Pfeiffer collected the surviving German texts of the 14th Century mystic Meister Eckhart
Meister Eckhart
Eckhart von Hochheim O.P. , commonly known as Meister Eckhart, was a German theologian, philosopher and mystic, born near Gotha, in the Landgraviate of Thuringia in the Holy Roman Empire. Meister is German for "Master", referring to the academic title Magister in theologia he obtained in Paris...
, who was at that time largely forgotten. This publication of the German Eckhartian corpus led to the modern revival of interest in Eckhart. Though there was subsequent dispute as to how many of the texts in Pfeiffer's edition are genuinely by Eckhart, his edition remains the standard and classic reference. The early translators of Eckhart into English, Evans and Blakney, depended largely on Pfeiffer for their source material.
In his later years, he traveled regularly to Überlingen am Bodensee
Überlingen
Überlingen is a city on the northern shore of Lake Constance . After the city of Friedrichshafen, it is the second largest city in the Bodenseekreis , and a central point for the outlying communities...
to enjoy the waters at the city's spa.
Works
Of his independent writings the most important are- Zur deutschen Literaturgeschichte
- Freie Forschung: kleine Schriften zur Geschichte der deutschen Litteratur und Sprache
- Über Wesen und Bildung der hofischen Sprache in mittelhochdeutscher Zeit
- Der Dichter des Nibelungenliedes
- Forschung und Kritik auf dem Gebiete des deutschen Altertums
- Altdeutsches Übungsbuch.
As editor
Among the many writings he edited were- Barlaam und Josaphat, Rudolf von EmsRudolf von EmsRudolf von Ems was a mediaeval Austrian epic poet.-Life:Rudolf von Ems was born in the Vorarlberg in Austria. He took his name from the castle of Hohenems near Bregenz, and was a knight in the service of the Counts of Montfort. His works were written between 1220 and 1254...
(1843) - Edelstein, Ulrich BonerUlrich BonerUlrich Boner, or Bonerius, , was a German-speaking Swiss writer of fable.He was born in Bern, descended of an old Bernese family and, as far as can be ascertained, took clerical orders and became a monk; yet as it appears that he subsequently married, it is certain that he received the tonsure...
(1844) - Die deutschen Mystiker des 14. Jahrhunderts (1845-1857)
- Buch der Natur of Konrad von Megenberg, a 14th century writer (1861)
- Die Predigten des Berthold von Regensburg, vol. 1, vol. 2 (1862,1880)
- Poems of Walther von der VogelweideWalther von der VogelweideWalther von der Vogelweide is the most celebrated of the Middle High German lyric poets.-Life history:For all his fame, Walther's name is not found in contemporary records, with the exception of a solitary mention in the travelling accounts of Bishop Wolfger of Erla of the Passau diocese:...
(1864)