August Heinrich Julius Lafontaine (5 October 1758 – 20 April 1831) was a German
novelist
A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...
.
Biography
Lafontaine was born and brought up in
Brunswick, the son of the court painter Ludolph Lafontaine and his fifth wife, the court maid-in-waiting Sophie Elisabeth Thorbrügge. He was educated in
Helmstedt
Helmstedt (; Eastphalian: ''Helmstidde'') is a town on the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. The historic university and Hanseatic city conserves an important monumental heritage of ...
, where he studied
theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
, but took no degree.
[Dirk Sangmeister]
Der Lieblingsdichter der Nation...
article in German newspaper ''Die Zeit'' no. 31, 1999. He then acted as a private tutor until 1789. In 1792, he served as a field chaplain in the
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...
n army, and in 1800 settled in
Halle Halle may refer to:
Places Germany
* Halle (Saale), also called Halle an der Saale, a city in Saxony-Anhalt
** Halle (region), a former administrative region in Saxony-Anhalt
** Bezirk Halle, a former administrative division of East Germany
** Hall ...
. He became canon of the
Magdeburg Cathedral as a reward for the dedication of one of his books to
Friedrich Wilhelm III and
Luise.
[
]
Works
The popularity of his novels, which are sentimental and didactic tales of domestic life, was remarkable.[ In his lifetime, he was the most popular German novelist, his works surpassing by far the popularity of his contemporary ]Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as treat ...
's.[ He wrote over 150 volumes, using the pseudonyms Gustav Freier, Miltenberg or Selchow.]Athenaeum
Athenaeum may refer to:
Books and periodicals
* ''Athenaeum'' (German magazine), a journal of German Romanticism, established 1798
* ''Athenaeum'' (British magazine), a weekly London literary magazine 1828–1921
* ''The Athenaeum'' (Acadia U ...
'' in May 1798: "He has indeed become a favourite writer. Lafontaine can never be more than that.... or his work
Or or OR may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* "O.R.", a 1974 episode of M*A*S*H
* Or (My Treasure), a 2004 movie from Israel (''Or'' means "light" in Hebrew)
Music
* ''Or'' (album), a 2002 album by Golden Boy with Miss ...
lacks poetry, spirit, and romantic verve."[ Among his more popular works are:][
* ''Der Naturmensch'' (1791)
* ''Gemälde des menschlichen Herzen'' (Paintings of the Human Heart; 1792 and later, 15 vols.)
* ''Der Sonderling'' (1793)
* ''Familiengeschichten'' (Family Stories; 1797-1804, 12 vols.)
* ''Saint Julien'' (1798)
* ''Fedor und Marie'' (1805)
* ''Descriptions of the Life of Man'' (1811)
* ''Die Pfarre an der See'' (The Parsonage on the Lake Side; 1816, 3 vols.)
* ''Le Confessioni al Sepolcro'' traduzione dal tedesco, con note e tavole incise in rame; stampato a Roma (1822, 3 vol.)
]
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lafontaine, August
1758 births
1831 deaths
Writers from Braunschweig
Writers from Halle (Saale)
People from the Duchy of Brunswick
18th-century German novelists
19th-century German novelists
German male novelists
19th-century German male writers
18th-century German male writers