 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in German. (December 2009)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Ernst Benjamin Salomo Raupach | |
|---|---|
 Portrait byCarl Christian Vogel von Vogelstein (1840) |
Ernst Benjamin Salomo Raupach (21 May 1784 – 18 March 1852) was a Germandramatist.
He was born atStraupitz (Polish:Strupice), nearLiegnitz inSilesia, a son of the villagepastor. He attended the gymnasium at Liegnitz, and studiedtheology at theuniversity of Halle. In 1804 he obtained a tutorship inSt Petersburg. He preached at times in the GermanLutheran church, wrote his first tragedies, and in 1817 was appointed professor of German literature and history at a training college in connection with the university.[1]
Owing to an outburst of jealousy against Germans inRussia, culminating in police supervision, Raupach left St Petersburg in 1822 and undertook a journey toItaly. The literary fruits of his travels wereHirsemeuzels Briefe aus und über Italien (Hirsemeuzel's Letters from and about Italy, 1823). He next visitedWeimar, but, being coldly received byGoethe, abandoned his idea of living there and settled in 1824 inBerlin. Here he spent the remainder of his life, writing for the stage, which for twenty years he greatly influenced, if not wholly controlled, in the Prussian capital. He died in Berlin on 18 March 1852.[2]
Raupach wrote both tragedies and comedies; of the former,Die Fürsten Chawansky (1818),Der Liebe Zauberkreis (1824),Die Leibeigenen, oder Isidor und Olga (1826),Rafaele (1828),Der Nibelungenhort (1834) andDie Schule des Lebens (1841), and of the latterDie Schleichhändler (1828) andDer Zeitgeist (1830) are pieces which enjoyed great popularity.[2]
The historical dramas with which his name is chiefly associated areDie Hohenstaufen (1837–38), a cyclus of 15 dramatic pieces founded onFriedrich von Raumer'sGeschichte der Hohenstaufen, and the trilogyCromwell (1841–44).[2]
Raupach's "Laßt die Todten ruhen" (1823) published inMinerva : Taschenbuch magazine, was an early prosevampire story, which was soon translated into English as "Wake not the Dead" inPopular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations (1823). It was incorrectly attributed toLudwig Tieck in the English speaking world for many years, despite German scholars consistently identifying Raupach as the author.[3]
Also noteworthy among his early pieces are:Die Gefesselten (1821) andDie Freunde (1825). Among his comedies may also be mentioned the farcesDenk' an Cäsar andSchelle im Monde. Among his posthumous works are:Der Kegelspieler (1853);Mulier Taceat in Ecclesia, a tragi-comedy (1853); andSaat und Frucht (1854). The dramaDer Müller und sein Kind was still on the stage in the early 20th century.
Raupach wrote in all about eighty plays, besides letters and poems. His collected dramas appeared under the titleDramatische Werke ernster Gattung (16 vols., 1830–43) andDramatische Werke komischer Gattung (4 vols., 1829–35).
The 1911Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition attributed the popularity of his comedies and tragedies to their skillful dramatic handling, but thought the historical dramas cited superficial in treatment. The article conceded a great knowledge of theatrical effect and situations to Raupach, but complained that he contorted historical facts in order to foster support for theseparation of church and state.[2]
The 1905New International Encyclopedia thought his writings display great knowledge of stage effect, a talent for the invention of new and interesting situations, and a fine play of verbal wit.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Raupach, Ernst Benjamin Salomo".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 921–922. This work in turn cites:
Media related toErnst Raupach at Wikimedia Commons
