Wilhelm Raabe

Wilhelm Raabe (September 8, 1831 – November 15, 1910), German novelist, whose early works were published under the pseudonym of Jakob Corvinus, was born at Eschershausen (then in the Duchy of Brunswick, now in the Holzminden District).

Related Topics:
September 8 - 1831 - November 15 - 1910 - German - Novelist - Eschershausen - Duchy of Brunswick - Holzminden

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He served apprenticeship at a bookseller's in Magdeburg for four years (1849-1854); but tiring of the routine of business, studied philosophy at Berlin (1855-1857). While a student at that university he published his first work, Die Chronik der Sperlingsgasse (1857), which at once attained to great popularity.

Related Topics:
Magdeburg - Philosophy - Berlin

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Raabe next returned to Wolfenbüttel, and then lived (1862-1870) at Stuttgart, where he devoted himself entirely to authorship and wrote a number of novels and short stories; notably Unseres Herrgotts Kanzlei (1862); Der Hungerpastor (1864); Abu Telfan (1867) and Der Schüdderump (1870).

Related Topics:
Wolfenbüttel - Stuttgart

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In 1870 Raabe removed to Brunswick and published the narratives Horacker (1876); Das Odfeld (1889); Stopfkuchen--perhaps his masterpiece (1891), Kloster Lugau (1894) and numerous other stories.

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The distinguishing characteristic of Raabe's work is a genial humour reminiscent of Dickens; but often combined with pessimism. His works, many of which double as fairy tales, have a recurrent theme of homecoming to the place of birth. Raabe's 40th anniversary as a writer in 1894 was a matter of national celebration

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Raabe's Gesammelte Erzählungen appeared in 4 vols (1896-1900); there is no uniform edition of his larger novels. See P. Gerber, Wilhelm Raabe (1897); A Otto, Wilhelm Raabe (1899); A Bartels, Wilhelm Raabe: Vortrag (1901).

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