Alexander Cosmar

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Alexander Cosmar (* 12. May 1805 in Berlin , † 27 January 1842 ibid ) was a German writer , publisher , bookseller and publisher . He also wrote an anagram from his name Alex Cosmar under the pseudonym Max Larceso .

Life

Alexander Cosmar was born as the son of a chief medical officer and judicial commissioner . He discovered his talent as a writer at an early age, for example at the time of the Wars of Liberation he wrote mock poems about Napoleon , which he recited to his family. While still in high school, he wrote the play Truth and Lies , which was published in 1824 and performed in the royal theater. At the age of 16 and 17, he made extensive trips to France, Switzerland, Northern Italy and large parts of Germany.

Because of his poor health, Cosmar was prescribed a spa treatment when he was 20 years old . His and his father's wish to pursue an academic career, he could not follow because of the health problems. He went to Magdeburg and learned the trade of bookseller in Wilhelm von Heinrichshofen's bookstore. From 1824 he edited the magazine Phantasus in Magdeburg and in 1825 published the local antics An Adventure in Birdsong and The Journey to Salze . In 1826 he acquired the Christiansche Buchhandlung in Berlin, which he soon sold to his partner in order to settle permanently in Berlin as a freelance writer. In 1830 he founded the poet almanac Odeum and in 1831 the magazine Berliner Modespiegel . He financed and published the latter himself and also took over the editing . In Berlin, under the name Gessner, he became a member of the literary society Sonntags-Verein zu Berlin, the later tunnel over the Spree .

He wrote numerous festivals for the theater , but also worked as a theater critic . His plays, mainly comedies for audiences from the Biedermeier period , were successfully performed at the Hoftheater Berlin and the Stadttheater Magdeburg, including Der third August , Germania , Tringolini and Der Mann von Welt . From 1836 to 1841 he was editor of the Berlin theater almanac and from 1839 to 1842 of the Dramatic Salon . From 1831 to 1833, Cosmar's history, sagas and miscelles from Berlin's prehistory as well as sketches and stories from Berlin life appeared in two volumes . He was also the translator of the play Das Glas Wasser after Eugène Scribe, which was widely played in Magdeburg, and the work Louise of France by Comtesse Dash.

Alexander Cosmar died on January 27, 1842, at the age of 36, in Berlin after a febrile illness. An autopsy revealed an organic heart condition. He was married to Antonie Vogt (1806–1870) from Magdeburg since 1827 . His wife was a writer herself and the author of numerous plays. The couple had two children. In his honor, a street, the Cosmarweg, was named in Berlin-Staaken in 1955 .

Works (selection)

  • Truth and lie. Comedy. Magdeburg 1824.
  • The blue veil. Vaudeville burlesque. Berlin 1830.
  • Legends and miscelles from Berlin's past. According to chronicles and traditions. Two volumes, Berlin 1831–1833.
  • The names of the most important streets, buildings, bridges and squares in Berlin. Berlin 1831. Digitized by the Central and State Library Berlin, 2013. URN urn: nbn: de: kobv: 109-1-14547318
  • The founding of Berlin. Festival to celebrate the very high birth of His Majesty the King Friedrich Wilhelm III. Berlin 1831. Digitized by the Central and State Library Berlin, 2020. URN urn: nbn: de: kobv: 109-1-15389382
  • The convert. Comedy. Berlin 1835. ( digitized )
  • The assassin, or the curse of the evil deed! Posse. Berlin 1835. ( digitized )
  • The twin siblings. Comedy. Berlin 1837. ( digitized )
  • The unwilling spy. Sway. Berlin 1837.
  • Spa treatments. Comedy. Berlin 1837.
  • Lobster and Company. Comedy. Berlin 1837.
  • Gentian. A burlesque. Berlin 1837. ( digitized )
  • Inn adventure. Comedy. Berlin 1838.
  • The unwilling prisoner. Berlin 1838. ( digitized )
  • Uncle and nephew. Comedy. Berlin 1839.
  • Dust. Pictures and sketches from life in Berlin. Berlin 1839. ( digitized )
  • The latest and most complete guide through Berlin for foreigners and locals. Berlin 1839. ( digitized )
  • Up one flight of stairs. Sway. Berlin 1840.

literature

Web links

Wikisource: Alexander Cosmar  - Sources and full texts