Paul Lindau
Encyclopedia
Paul Lindau was a German
dramatist and novelist.
as the son of a Protestant pastor. He was educated at Halle, Leipzig
, and Berlin
. He spent five years in Paris
to further his studies, acting meanwhile as foreign correspondent to German papers. After his return to Germany in 1863 he was engaged in journalism in Düsseldorf
and Elberfeld
. In 1870 he founded Das neue Blatt at Leipzig; from 1872 to 1881 he edited the Berlin weekly, Die Gegenwart; and in 1878 he founded the well-known monthly, Nord und Süd, which he continued to edit until 1904.
Two books of travel, Aus Venetien (Düsseldorf, 1864) and Aus Paris (Stuttgart
, 1865), were followed by some volumes of critical studies, written in a light, satirical
vein, which at once made him famous. These were Harmlose Briefe eines deutschen Kleinstädters (Leipzig, 2 vols., 1870), Moderne Märchen fur grosse Kinder (Leipzig, 1870) and Literarische Rücksichtslosigkeiten (Leipzig, 1871). He was appointed intendant of the court theatre at Meiningen
1n 1895, but removed to Berlin in 1899, where he became manager of the Berliner Theater, and subsequently, until 1905, at the Deutsches Theater.
He began his dramatic career in 1868 with Marion, the first of a long series of plays in which he displayed a remarkable talent for stage effect and a command of witty and lively dialogue. Among the more famous were Maria und Magdalena (1872), Tante Therese (1876), Gräfin Lea (1879), Die Erste (1895), Der Abend (i896), Der Herr im Hause (1899), So ich dir (2903), and he adapted many plays by Dumas
, Augier
and Sardou
for the German stage. Five volumes of his plays have been published (Berlin, 1873–1888). Some of his volumes of short stories acquired great popularity, notably Herr und Frau Bewer (Breslau, 182) and Toggenburg und andere Geschichten (Breslau, 2883). A novel-sequence entitled Berlin included Der Zug nach dem Westen (Stuttgart, 1886, 10th ed. 1903), Arme Mädchen (1887, 9th ed. 1905) and Spitzen (1888, 8th ed. 1904). Later novels were Die Gehilfin (Breslau, 1894), Die Brüder (Dresden
, 1895)
and Der König von Sidon (Breslau, 1898). His earlier books on
Molière (Leipzig, 1871) and Alfred de Musset (Berlin, 1877)
were followed by some volumes of dramatic and literary criticism,
Gesammelte Aufsätze (Berlin, 1875), Dramaturgische Blätter
(Stuttgart, 2 vols., 1875; new series, Breslau, 1878, 2 vols.),
Vorspiele auf dem Theater (Breslau, 1895).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
dramatist and novelist.
Life and Works
Lindau was born in MagdeburgMagdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
as the son of a Protestant pastor. He was educated at Halle, Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, and Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
. He spent five years in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to further his studies, acting meanwhile as foreign correspondent to German papers. After his return to Germany in 1863 he was engaged in journalism in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
and Elberfeld
Elberfeld
Elberfeld is a municipal subdivision of the German city of Wuppertal; it was an independent town until 1929.-History:The first official mentioning of the geographic area on the banks of today's Wupper River as "elverfelde" was in a document of 1161...
. In 1870 he founded Das neue Blatt at Leipzig; from 1872 to 1881 he edited the Berlin weekly, Die Gegenwart; and in 1878 he founded the well-known monthly, Nord und Süd, which he continued to edit until 1904.
Two books of travel, Aus Venetien (Düsseldorf, 1864) and Aus Paris (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 ....
, 1865), were followed by some volumes of critical studies, written in a light, satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
vein, which at once made him famous. These were Harmlose Briefe eines deutschen Kleinstädters (Leipzig, 2 vols., 1870), Moderne Märchen fur grosse Kinder (Leipzig, 1870) and Literarische Rücksichtslosigkeiten (Leipzig, 1871). He was appointed intendant of the court theatre at Meiningen
Meiningen
Meiningen is a town in Germany - located in the southern part of the state of Thuringia and is the district seat of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. It is situated on the river Werra....
1n 1895, but removed to Berlin in 1899, where he became manager of the Berliner Theater, and subsequently, until 1905, at the Deutsches Theater.
He began his dramatic career in 1868 with Marion, the first of a long series of plays in which he displayed a remarkable talent for stage effect and a command of witty and lively dialogue. Among the more famous were Maria und Magdalena (1872), Tante Therese (1876), Gräfin Lea (1879), Die Erste (1895), Der Abend (i896), Der Herr im Hause (1899), So ich dir (2903), and he adapted many plays by Dumas
Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, , born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was a French writer, best known for his historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world...
, Augier
Émile Augier
Guillaume Victor Émile Augier was a French dramatist. He was the thirteenth member to occupy seat 1 of the Académie française on 31 March 1857.-Biography:...
and Sardou
Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play...
for the German stage. Five volumes of his plays have been published (Berlin, 1873–1888). Some of his volumes of short stories acquired great popularity, notably Herr und Frau Bewer (Breslau, 182) and Toggenburg und andere Geschichten (Breslau, 2883). A novel-sequence entitled Berlin included Der Zug nach dem Westen (Stuttgart, 1886, 10th ed. 1903), Arme Mädchen (1887, 9th ed. 1905) and Spitzen (1888, 8th ed. 1904). Later novels were Die Gehilfin (Breslau, 1894), Die Brüder (Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, 1895)
and Der König von Sidon (Breslau, 1898). His earlier books on
Molière (Leipzig, 1871) and Alfred de Musset (Berlin, 1877)
were followed by some volumes of dramatic and literary criticism,
Gesammelte Aufsätze (Berlin, 1875), Dramaturgische Blätter
(Stuttgart, 2 vols., 1875; new series, Breslau, 1878, 2 vols.),
Vorspiele auf dem Theater (Breslau, 1895).
Britannica References
- Hadlich, Paul Lindau als dramatischer Dichter (2nd ed., Berlin, 1876).