Gustav Freytag (novelist)

G. Freytag

Gustav Freytag (1816-1895) was a German novelist and dramatist, born in Kreuzburg, Silesia. He was for a time lecturer in German language and literature at Breslau and then with Julian Schmidt edited the Liberal newspaper Die Grenzboten at Leipzig (1848-61 and 1867-70). From 1867 to 1870 he was a member of the North German Reichstag, and for a time during the French War was attached to the staff of the Crown Prince.
Of Freytag's dramas, Die Journalisten (1845) was one of the best German comedies of the 19th century and still remains popular. His other plays, including the ambitious tragedy Die Fabier (1859), were quickly forgotten. His dramatic criticism, Die Technik des Dramas (1863), was a synthesis of classical and modern theories which influenced many of his contemporaries. As a novelist Freytag produced one masterpiece, Solí und Haben (1855), a unique picture of German life in his time. Less distinguished, but equally known, was Die verlorene Handschrift (1864), a novel of university life.