Wolf Graf Baudissin (1789-1878)

This is the first English-language biography of the man who, behind the scenes, made German translations of Shakespeare possible and brought Moliere's plays to life for the German stage. Wolf Graf Baudissin's life sets a mirror to his age. He was born with the French Revolution, spanning from feudal nobility to the age of industry, from Napoleon's Empire to the Germany of Bismarck. In his youth, he revered Goethe, upheld the German Romantics, yet was at ease with Realists and was...
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This is the first English-language biography of the man who, behind the scenes, made German translations of Shakespeare possible and brought Moliere's plays to life for the German stage. Wolf Graf Baudissin's life sets a mirror to his age. He was born with the French Revolution, spanning from feudal nobility to the age of industry, from Napoleon's Empire to the Germany of Bismarck. In his youth, he revered Goethe, upheld the German Romantics, yet was at ease with Realists and was championed in old age by Freytag. He was devoted to Bach and the piano, a friend of the Schumanns, Chopin, Mendelssohn, his family bridging to Brahms. From diplomat to dedicated translator, and committed to his family, to Holstein, and to Dresden high culture, Wolf Graf Baudissin's legacy is one of sheer human goodness. (Series: Literature: Research and Science - Vol. 33 / Literatur: Forschung und Wissenschaft - Vol. 33) [Subject: Biography, Literary Criticism, Translation Studies]