The Collected Works of Gottfried Keller

These letters span 1840 to 1890, tracking his life across Munich, Zurich, Heidelberg, Berlin and back again to Zurich, where he died. Keller wrote to Friedrich Nietzsche, and Nietzsche warmly expressed his love of Keller's poetry, telling him in a June 1883 letter written from Rome: In reply to your kind letter "Your kind letter" a very amiable letter of thanks from Keller for sending me the "Fröhliche Wissenschaft" and at the same time as confirmation of the thought you expressed in it that great pain makes people more eloquent than they otherwise are I would like to recommend to you the enclosed booklet entitled "Thus Spoke Zarathustra". And in a letter to Hippolyte Taine dated July 4, 1887:... that Swiss poet whom I discuss to be the only living German poet, Gottfried Keller. We have lost the letters from Keller to Nietzsche, but Keller's existing letters encompass a wide range of topics, from his artistic aspirations and financial difficulties to intimate confessions of love and reflections on friendship, painting a complete picture of a many sided individual navigating the difficulties of 19th century life. notable figures such as Christian Kapp, father of Johanna Kapp, and Adolf Exner, a professor, appear in the letters, showing Keller's intellectual circle. His humorous and affectionate letters to Marie von Frisch née Exner demonstrate his lighter side. Keller's letters to Ferdinand Freiligrath, a fellow poet, and Wilhelm Baumgartner, a friend, reveal his thoughts on the literary scene and his struggles with productivity in Berlin. Correspondences with individuals like Lina Duncker, Ludmilla Assing, and Marie Erner reflect his social engagements and travel arrangements, showing his efforts to balance personal relationships and professional commitments. Romantic interests appear in the form of Luise Rieter, to whom Keller confesses his love, and Mrs. Orelli Breitinger, a motherly friend involved in the response to his love letter. Friends like Johann Salomon Hegi and Rudolf Leemann feature prominently, offering companionship and support, while Eduard Dößekel and Jakob Baechtold serve as confidants in his philosophical and poetic development. Keller frequently writes to his mother, expressing his reliance on her emotional and financial support while detailing his daily life, travels, and artistic endeavors. His close bond with his sister, Regula, is evident in his affectionate mentions and gratitude for her steadfast support. Friends like Steffen, who accompanied him on travels, and Müller, who provided lodging in Frauenfeld, show the network of support that surrounded Keller during his international travels In Munich, Keller interacts with Hegi, his best friend from Zurich, and Fischer, a fellow artist, discussing their shared financial questions and living conditions. The letters also mention Mr. Vogel and Mrs. Schinz from Zurich, whose opinions on his artistic talent materially impact Keller's self esteem and career decisions. Alongside the translation of Letters of Gottfried Keller, the edition provides contextual material on Keller's life and literary influence. Nietzsche considered Keller to be one of the greatest living poets of his time. yet, his works are rarely found in other languages, so most people today are unaware of who he was or why he was major. For Letters of Gottfried Keller, Keller's German prose is rendered in readable modern English and placed within its wider intellectual context. For Letters of Gottfried Keller, working directly from Keller's German manuscripts, this new translation delivers literary excellence and scholarly depth with supporting materials. For contextual study, Letters of Gottfried Keller is accompanied by an afterword tracing Keller's intellectual relationship with Nietzsche, revealing the detailed dialogue between two of the period's most influential minds. For Letters of Gottfried Keller, a timeline connects the major events of Keller's life with his published works, and a detailed index provides an guide to his complete writings.