Fun Facts Friday: Wilhelm Heinse

Wilhelm Heinse (16 February, 1746 – 22 June, 1803) was a German author, novelist, and art critic who influenced many Romantics.

Books by Wilhelm Heinse*

Fun Facts about Wilhelm Heinse :

1. Johann Jakob Wilhelm Heinse was born in Langewiesen, Germany.
2. We don’t know much about his childhood, but we do know that he studied law at the University of Jena. One of the ten oldest universities in Germany.
3. During his time at the university he met a few notables, such as poet Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Glein, who would serve as mentors.
4. In fact, Glein was so impressed by the young man that he hired him to tutor.
5. By 1774 Wilhelm Heinse found himself working as an editor for Iris, a periodical for women.
6. Between 1780 and 1783, Mr. Heinse traveled around Italy, but returned to Germany to be appointed as reader to the Archbishop of Mainz in 1784.
7. Frederick Charles Joseph,  the Archbishop of Mainz, was apparently impressed by Mr.  Heinse that he made him his librarian at Aschaffenburg.
8. His most famous novel Ardinghell and the Blessed Islands (dinghello und die glückseligen Inseln) was published in 1787. The novel talks about an artists who found utopia on a Greek island.
9. The novel describes and explains the author’s views on life and art.
10. Wilhelm Heinse died in Aschaffenburg at age 57, leaving behind several notable works.

Books by Wilhelm Heinse*

Zohar — Man of la Book
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account, the money is usually spent on books

Sources:

Johann Jakob Wilhelm Heinse | Wikipedia

Wilhelm Heinse: German Writer | Britannica