Wilhelm Meinhold
Encyclopedia
Johann Wilhelm Meinhold was a Pomerania
n priest and author.
Meinhold was born in Netzelkow
on the island of Usedom
, where his father Georg Wilhelm Meinhold (1767-1728) was Lutheran
priest. Growing up in the atmosphere of the Napoleonic Wars
, he matriculated at the University of Greifswald, Swedish Pomerania
, in the fall of 1813. After his theological education, he was priest in Koserow
on Usedom from 1821 until 1827. The next seventeen years, he was priest in Krummin
, also on Usedom, before he was relocated to Farther Pomerania
and retired early due to insubordinate behaviour. In 1851, he died in Berlin-Charlottenburg.
Meinhold was a poet, playwright and novelist. His most well-known literary works, (translated into English by Jane Wilde
and Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
), are the Gothic romance novels Die Bernsteinhexe (1838), translated into in English as The Amber Witch
(1843), and Sidonia von Bork (1847), translated into as English as Sidonia The Sorceress (1849).
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
n priest and author.
Meinhold was born in Netzelkow
Lütow
Lütow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.-External links:...
on the island of Usedom
Usedom
Usedom is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the River Oder in Pomerania...
, where his father Georg Wilhelm Meinhold (1767-1728) was Lutheran
Pomeranian Evangelical Church
The Pomeranian Evangelical Church is a Protestant church body in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, serving the citizens living in Hither Pomerania. It combines Lutheran and Reformed traditions...
priest. Growing up in the atmosphere of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, he matriculated at the University of Greifswald, Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania was a Dominion under the Swedish Crown from 1630 to 1815, situated on what is now the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland. Following the Polish War and the Thirty Years' War, Sweden held extensive control over the lands on the southern Baltic coast, including Pomerania and parts...
, in the fall of 1813. After his theological education, he was priest in Koserow
Koserow
Koserow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. As of 2009 it has a population of 1,693.A small coastal bathing resort, Koserow lies on an isthmus on the island of Usedom on the Baltic Sea, near the border with Poland...
on Usedom from 1821 until 1827. The next seventeen years, he was priest in Krummin
Krummin
Krummin is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.-External links:*...
, also on Usedom, before he was relocated to Farther Pomerania
Farther Pomerania
Farther Pomerania, Further Pomerania, Transpomerania or Eastern Pomerania , which before the German-Polish border shift of 1945 comprised the eastern part of the Duchy, later Province of Pomerania, roughly stretching from the Oder River in the West to Pomerelia in the East...
and retired early due to insubordinate behaviour. In 1851, he died in Berlin-Charlottenburg.
Meinhold was a poet, playwright and novelist. His most well-known literary works, (translated into English by Jane Wilde
Jane Wilde
Jane Francesca Agnes, Lady Wilde was an Irish poet under the pen name "Speranza" and supporter of the nationalist movement; had a special interest on Irish Fairy Tales, which she helped to gather...
and Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
Lucy Christiana, Lady Duff Gordon was a leading fashion designer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, best known as "Lucile", her professional name. The first British designer to achieve international renown, Lucile was a widely-acknowledged innovator in couture styles as well as in fashion...
), are the Gothic romance novels Die Bernsteinhexe (1838), translated into in English as The Amber Witch
The Amber Witch
The Amber Witch is a Gothic novel and literary hoax written in 1839 by Johannes Wilhelm Meinhold and originally published in German as Maria Schweidler: Die Bernsteinhexe. In 1844 it was published in Britain as The Amber Witch in two English translations, one by E. A. Friedlander and another and...
(1843), and Sidonia von Bork (1847), translated into as English as Sidonia The Sorceress (1849).