Bettina von Arnim

Bettina von Arnim (the Countess of Arnim) (4 April 1785, Frankfurt am Main – 20 January 1859, Berlin), born as Elisabeth Catharina Ludovica Magdalena Brentano, was a German writer and novelist.

Related Topics:
4 April - 1785 - Frankfurt am Main - 20 January - 1859 - Berlin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bettina von Arnim was closely related to the German writers Clemens Brentano and Achim von Arnim: the first was her brother, the second her husband.

Related Topics:
Clemens Brentano - Achim von Arnim

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From 1991 until 31 December 2001, her portrait was printed on the German 5-DM-Banknote

Related Topics:
31 December - 2001

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bettina's Briefwechsel mit einem Kinde was a published volume of letters between her and the renowned author, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, that depicted a mutual romance. However, the originals of these letters were discovered after her death, and it was revealed that her published versions were significantly edited to bolster the appearance of an intimate relationship; Goethe's own letters to her were much more formal and impersonal than the versions Bettina had published.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The life of Bettina von Arnim, particularly her relationship with Goethe, was explored at length by the Franco-Czech author Milan Kundera in his novel Immortality. Closely tied to the main theme of his book, Kundera interpreted Bettina as attempting to achieve lasting fame through her promotion of and relation to great men.

Related Topics:
Milan Kundera - Immortality

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~