Hermann Haessel

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Hermann Adolf Haessel (born March 26, 1819 in Leipzig ; † February 8, 1901 there ) was a Protestant German bookseller and publisher.

Life

Original editions by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer published by H. Haessel Verlag, Leipzig

The son of large parents attended the school for the poor and at Easter 1834 was a runner at the bookseller Leopold Voss (1793-1868). A short time later, Voss hired him as an apprentice. Haessel stayed in Voss' business for 20 years. During this time he acquired knowledge of French, English and Russian, and later also of Italian. Voss sent his colleague to Russia in 1849. There Haessel visited Saint Petersburg , Moscow and the Crimea . Travel letters that he published in the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung in 1851 testify to his sympathy for Russia .

In 1853 Haessel bought Georg Wigand 's bookstore, which was founded in 1833. The company was renamed “H. Haessel's commission business ”. Although he ran a scientific publishing house, Haessel also turned to "beautiful literature". From 1863 he published Laube's nine-volume novel The German War (1863/66). He had already met Laube in Leipzig in the 1840s. Haessel is considered to be the discoverer CF Meyers , with whom he was also friends. In 1871 his verse epic Hutten's Last Days was published by Haessel, which made Meyer famous. All of Meyer's subsequent works were also published by Haessel. Other authors were Ricarda Huch , Julius R. Haarhaus , Adolf Frey , Theophil Zolling and many others. Haessel also published German translations of Scandinavian literature such as B. Novels and short stories by Alfred von Hedenstjernas. In 1896 the German translation of Selma Lagerlöfs Gösta Berling appeared . Haessel was liberal and therefore an opponent of Bismarck .

Haessel was involved in the self-administration of the book trade and its political interest representation in the Exchange Association of German Booksellers in Leipzig. There he held numerous board positions and was also temporarily treasurer.

Martin Glaubrecht describes him in his entry in the Neue Deutsche Biographie as a person “of rugged honesty and generosity ” and as a “successful publisher who takes risks”.

literature

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personal data
SURNAME Haessel, Hermann
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Haessel, Hermann Adolf; Leß, Hermann (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German bookseller and publisher
DATE OF BIRTH March 26, 1819
PLACE OF BIRTH Leipzig
DATE OF DEATH February 8, 1901
Place of death Leipzig