Letters concerning the latest literature

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First page of the 266th Literature Letter, January 5, 1764

The letters relating to the latest literature (also: literary letters ) were a literary weekly from the Enlightenment period . They appeared from 1759 to 1765 in the Nicolaische Verlagsbuchhandlung in Berlin and were based on an idea by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing , who in addition to Moses Mendelssohn and Friedrich Nicolai initially also made most of the contributions. The publication contained a total of 333 letters, which appeared in 23 parts. A register concluded the series as the 24th part.

concept

The idea for the literary letters was born in a conversation between Nicolai and Lessing. It arose from a certain dissatisfaction with the popular review organs of the time. On the one hand, they aimed to capture the latest literary publications as completely as possible and, on the other hand, were academic in tone and cautious in terms of criticism.

Main author of the first editions: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, painting by Anna Rosina de Gasc (Lisiewska), 1767/1768, Gleimhaus Halberstadt

In contrast, Lessing and Nicolai wanted a lively and aggressive literary show that critically examines the literary trends of the time. Lessing in particular then used the literary letters as a forum for his often polemically pointed criticism of contemporary authors and for the presentation of his own theoretical literary considerations.

He also came up with the idea of ​​publishing the new weekly in the form of fictitious letters: They were addressed to an officer who was allegedly wounded in the Battle of Zorndorf and who wanted to be informed about the latest literary phenomena.

The letter form not only enabled a free choice of the subject, apparently determined by personal inclination, it also allowed subjective and pointed criticism in a conversational tone.

Authors

Most of the letters, namely 83, were from Moses Mendelssohn; Friedrich Nicolai was represented with 63 letters, Lessing with 55. Other authors were Thomas Abbt , Gabriel Resewitz and Friedrich Grillo.

The publisher: Friedrich Nicolai, painting by Ferdinand Collmann after Anton Graff , 1790, Gleimhaus Halberstadt

Although Lessing wrote less than a fifth of the articles, he was decisive in terms of the tone and direction of the publication. That was also because he was the main author in the first few volumes. Of the 30 letters in the first part, 18 were from him. Until the sixth part, which appeared in 1760, Lessing remained very present in the literary letters. Later he only contributed letters occasionally.

All contributions appeared anonymously. They were only given abbreviations. Lessing himself usually signed with Fll., But also with A., E., GL and O. His contemporaries were aware that a circle around Friedrich Nicolai stood behind the literary letters . The authors of the individual contributions initially remained unknown.

distribution

The literary letters were initially always given out on Thursdays in the Nicolaische Verlagsbuchhandlung in Berlin. They could also be purchased from foreign post offices and bookshops. The single issue was a dime, a quarterly subscription twelve. As early as 1759, the literary letters appeared collectively in book form.

meaning

According to Jörg Schönert, the literary letters were "the most important critical publication" between 1730 and 1770. Major debates in literary criticism were conducted in this weekly, but also in discussions with it.

The paper was both hostile and admired: Johann Jakob Bodmer sharply criticized the “presumptuousness” with which “virtue, innocence and seriousness are mocked” in the letters. Johann Gottfried Herder , on the other hand, was full of praise for Lessing, whom he called "Germany's first art judge".

The much-cited 17th literary letter is particularly important for later literary historiography. In it Lessing turns decisively against Johann Christoph Gottsched's normative poetics.

criticism

From the beginning, the literature letters provoked sharp reactions. Many contemporaries were particularly bothered by the tone of the contributions, which was perceived as impudent. On March 10, 1761, Johann Heinrich Gottlob von Justi complained to King Friedrich II :

"In this book, which has now grown to 12 parts, the most worthy and deserving scholars of our time are attacked for profit-addicted and black intentions with an insolence and insolence never before heard in the realm of science."

Web link

Letters concerning the latest literature , selection of 16 individual volumes, made available by Bielefeld University.

literature

  • Jörg Schönert: Letters concerning the latest literature , in: Herbert G. Göpfert (ed.), Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Werke, Vol. 5, Verlag Hanser, Munich 1973, pp. 813-882.

proof

  1. ↑ Jörg Schönert, Letters, concerning the latest literature, in: Herbert G. Göpfert (ed.), Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Werke, Vol. 5, Verlag Hanser, Munich 1973, p. 813.
  2. ↑ Monika Fick: Letters, concerning the latest literature, in: Monika Fick, Lessing-Handbuch. Life - work - effect, Verlag JB Metzler, Stuttgart 2010, pp. 192–211.
  3. ↑ Monika Fick: Letters, concerning the latest literature, in: Monika Fick, Lessing-Handbuch. Life - work - effect, Verlag JB Metzler, Stuttgart 2010, pp. 192–211.
  4. ↑ Jörg Schönert, Letters, concerning the latest literature, in: Herbert G. Göpfert (ed.), Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Werke, Vol. 5, Verlag Hanser, Munich 1973, p. 819.
  5. ↑ See the introduction , in: Letters, regarding the latest literature, Vol. 1, 1759.
  6. ↑ This is what Friedrich Nicolai wrote in a letter to Herder dated December 24, 1768, cited above. according to: Jörg Schönert, Letters, concerning the newest literature, in: Herbert G. Göpfert (ed.), Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Werke, Vol. 5, Verlag Hanser, Munich 1973, p. 830.
  7. ↑ Cf. the foreword , in: Letters, regarding the latest literature, Vol. 1, 1759.
  8. ↑ Jörg Schönert, Letters, concerning the latest literature, in: Herbert G. Göpfert (Ed.), Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Werke, Vol. 5, Verlag Hanser, Munich 1973, p. 826.
  9. ^ Johann Jakob Bodmer, in: Freimütige Nachrichten von new books and other things belonging to scholarship, Vol. VIII, 19. Stück, (1761), p. 146f.
  10. ↑ Johann Gottfried Herder, in: Teutscher Merkur (October 1781), pp. 11-13, quoted. according to: Jörg Schönert, Letters, concerning the latest literature, in: Herbert G. Göpfert (ed.), Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Werke, Vol. 5, Verlag Hanser, Munich 1973, pp. 830f.
  11. ↑ See for example: Bürgerliches Trauerspiel , under: literaturwissenschaft-online.de.
  12. ↑ Quoted from: Documents on the history of origins and effects, in: Letters, the latest literature regarding, Verlag Reclam, Stuttgart 1972, p. 344ff.