Levin Schücking
Encyclopedia
Levin Schücking was a German
novelist. He was the uncle of Levin Ludwig Schücking
.
n nobility on the estate of Klemenswerth, near Meppen
, his mother, Sibilla Katharina née Busch
(1791–1831) was a poet who occasionally published, whilst his father was Paulus Modestus Schücking
. Levin's mother became friend of the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff
, who wrote her son a letter of introduction when he left home for the gymnasium
in Münster. Shortly after he left home, his mother died, and Droste-Hülshoff did her best to fill this gap in his life.
After studying law
at Munich, Heidelberg and Göttingen, Schücking wished to enter the government judicial service, but, confronted by serious difficulties, abandoned the legal career, and settling at Münster
in 1837, devoted himself to literary work. In 1841 he removed to Schloss Meersburg on the Lake of Constance.
In 1843, Schücking married Luise von Gall. Up to this time, Droste-Hülshoff had been a major inspiration in his life, but she and his wife did not get along. Droste-Hülshoff felt he neglected her and that his head was too turned by the revolutionary "young Germany". And then Schücking published a novel on the Westphalian nobility which did not depict them favorably, and Droste-Hülshoff's friends, sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly, traced many of the depictions back to Droste-Hülshoff. This annoyance led to her avoiding Schücking
for the rest of her life.
Also in 1843, he joined the editorial staff of the Allgemeine Zeitung in Augsburg
, and in 1845, he joined that of the Kölnische Zeitung in Cologne
as a literary editor and occasional foreign correspondent. In 1852 he left his career in journalism for his estate in Sassenberg near Münster to have more time for writing. He died at Pyrmont on the 31st of August 1883.
Among his numerous romances, which are distinguished by good taste and patriotic feeling, largely reflecting the sound, sturdy character of the Westphalians, the most noteworthy include:
Schucking wrote a number of short stories:
In Annette von Droste-Hülshoff
(1862) he gives a sketch of this poet and acknowledges his indebtedness to her beneficial influence upon his mind. There appeared posthumously, Lebenserinnerungen (1886) and Briefe von Annette von Droste-Hülshoff und Levin Schücking (1893).
His wife, Luise (1815–1855), daughter of the General Freiherr von Gall, in the Hessian service, published some novels and romances of considerable merit. Among the latter may be mentioned Gegen den Strom (1851) and Der neue Kreuzritter (1853). She also wrote a successful comedy, Ein schlechtes Gewissen (1842).
Schücking's Gesammelte Erzählungen und Novellen appeared in 6 vols (1859–1866); Ausgewählte Romane (12 vols, 1864; 2nd series, also 12 vols, 1874–1876).
Several of Schücking's works appeared in the popular German weekly Die Gartenlaube
(such as "Pulver und Gold" in January 1871).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
novelist. He was the uncle of Levin Ludwig Schücking
Levin Ludwig Schücking
Levin Ludwig Schücking was a German scholar of the English language and English literature. He was the major figure of his time in Germany in English studies, as professor at Leipzig University...
.
Biography
Born into the WestphaliaWestphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
n nobility on the estate of Klemenswerth, near Meppen
Meppen, Germany
Meppen is a town in and the seat of the Emsland district of Lower Saxony, Germany, at the confluence of the Ems, Hase, and Nordradde rivers and the Dortmund-Ems canal...
, his mother, Sibilla Katharina née Busch
Katharina Sibylla Schücking
Katharina Sibylla Schücking was a German poet from Westphalia.- Life :...
(1791–1831) was a poet who occasionally published, whilst his father was Paulus Modestus Schücking
Paulus Modestus Schücking
Paulus Modestus Schücking was a German lawyer, councillor, philosopher and writer. He is also notable as the husband of Katharina Sibylla Schücking and the father of Levin Schücking....
. Levin's mother became friend of the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff
Annette von Droste-Hülshoff
Anna Elisabeth von Droste-Hülshoff, known as Annette von Droste-Hülshoff , was a 19th century German author, and one of the most important German poets.-Biography:...
, who wrote her son a letter of introduction when he left home for the gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Münster. Shortly after he left home, his mother died, and Droste-Hülshoff did her best to fill this gap in his life.
After studying law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Munich, Heidelberg and Göttingen, Schücking wished to enter the government judicial service, but, confronted by serious difficulties, abandoned the legal career, and settling at Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
in 1837, devoted himself to literary work. In 1841 he removed to Schloss Meersburg on the Lake of Constance.
In 1843, Schücking married Luise von Gall. Up to this time, Droste-Hülshoff had been a major inspiration in his life, but she and his wife did not get along. Droste-Hülshoff felt he neglected her and that his head was too turned by the revolutionary "young Germany". And then Schücking published a novel on the Westphalian nobility which did not depict them favorably, and Droste-Hülshoff's friends, sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly, traced many of the depictions back to Droste-Hülshoff. This annoyance led to her avoiding Schücking
for the rest of her life.
Also in 1843, he joined the editorial staff of the Allgemeine Zeitung in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, and in 1845, he joined that of the Kölnische Zeitung in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
as a literary editor and occasional foreign correspondent. In 1852 he left his career in journalism for his estate in Sassenberg near Münster to have more time for writing. He died at Pyrmont on the 31st of August 1883.
Works
His first efforts were descriptive:- Das Malerische und romantische Westfalen (1842)
- Der Dom zu Köln und seine Vollendung (1842)
Among his numerous romances, which are distinguished by good taste and patriotic feeling, largely reflecting the sound, sturdy character of the Westphalians, the most noteworthy include:
- Ein Schloss am Meer (1843)
- Ein Sohn des Vosges (1849)
- Ein Staatsgeheimnis (1854)
- Verschlungene Wege (1867)
- Die Herberge der Gerechtigkeit (1879)
Schucking wrote a number of short stories:
- Aus den Tagen der grossen Kaiserin (1858)
- Neue Novellen (1877)
In Annette von Droste-Hülshoff
Annette von Droste-Hülshoff
Anna Elisabeth von Droste-Hülshoff, known as Annette von Droste-Hülshoff , was a 19th century German author, and one of the most important German poets.-Biography:...
(1862) he gives a sketch of this poet and acknowledges his indebtedness to her beneficial influence upon his mind. There appeared posthumously, Lebenserinnerungen (1886) and Briefe von Annette von Droste-Hülshoff und Levin Schücking (1893).
His wife, Luise (1815–1855), daughter of the General Freiherr von Gall, in the Hessian service, published some novels and romances of considerable merit. Among the latter may be mentioned Gegen den Strom (1851) and Der neue Kreuzritter (1853). She also wrote a successful comedy, Ein schlechtes Gewissen (1842).
Schücking's Gesammelte Erzählungen und Novellen appeared in 6 vols (1859–1866); Ausgewählte Romane (12 vols, 1864; 2nd series, also 12 vols, 1874–1876).
Several of Schücking's works appeared in the popular German weekly Die Gartenlaube
Die Gartenlaube
Die Gartenlaube Illustrirtes Familienblatt , was a forerunner of modern magazines, and the first major success of the German weekly. The name means "The Garden Arbor Family Journal" but the magazine is known worldwide as "Die Gartenlaube"...
(such as "Pulver und Gold" in January 1871).
Sources
- Carl SchurzCarl SchurzCarl Christian Schurz was a German revolutionary, American statesman and reformer, and Union Army General in the American Civil War. He was also an accomplished journalist, newspaper editor and orator, who in 1869 became the first German-born American elected to the United States Senate.His wife,...
, Reminiscences (3 vols.), New York: McClure Publ. Co., 1907, Vol. 1, Ch. 3, p. 65. Schurz recalls how, as an aspiring writer attending a gymnasium in Cologne, he sent a manuscript to Schücking requesting an appointment to get his opinion on the work. Schücking granted the appointment, but told the disappointed boy he should regard the work as a "study." Schurz later appreciated the wisdom of this advice.
External links
- Schücking Museum
- "Pulver und Gold", Die GartenlaubeDie GartenlaubeDie Gartenlaube Illustrirtes Familienblatt , was a forerunner of modern magazines, and the first major success of the German weekly. The name means "The Garden Arbor Family Journal" but the magazine is known worldwide as "Die Gartenlaube"...
, January 1871, Commons page-image: Comm-Pulver, Wikisource: WikiS-Pulver.
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