Caroline’s Literary Reviews
This edition includes translations of all the literary reviews that can be reliably attributed to Caroline or are likely attributable to her.
I. Caroline’s Anonymous Contributions to the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung, Athenaeum, and Die Horen.
Specifics of Caroline’s authorship of reviews published anonymously for Wilhelm Schlegel in the original Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung can likely never be established (though see below). Wilhelm himself published a lengthy list of his reviews in a supplement to Athenaeum 3 (1800) (following page 164 in reprint edition). In the introduction to his collected critical writings in 1828 (Kritische Schriften [Berlin 1828] 1:xv–xvi), however, Wilhelm notes:
“In this or that piece I may [since] have changed my mind, or may now find some of my earlier statements one-sided or exaggerated, but I never published anything that I feel any need to conceal.”
“I do, by the way, consider anonymity perfectly justified as long as such anonymous writings do not otherwise merit reproach; for without such means of ensuring that one not be disturbed personally, many a useful but perhaps unpleasant truth would probably go unsaid. I myself made use of such only rarely and as an exception; in the case of review journals, e.g., the Jena Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung, I had to accommodate myself to the journal’s own guidelines. I afterward lifted that anonymity myself. I had contributed heavily to the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung during the years 1796–99, indeed was largely responsible for the entire rubric of belles lettres. When I saw, however, that the editors, who actually owed me a debt of gratitude, instead engaged in all sorts of cabals against me and my friends, I found myself constrained to take leave publicly of any further participation (Intelligenzblatt der Allgemeinen Literatur-Zeitung [1799] 145 [Wednesday, 13 November 1799] 1179 [Sämmtliche Werke 11:427]). In an extensive and convoluted counter declaration [Intelligenzblatt (1799) 145:1179-84], the editors maintained that I would probably be loathe to admit my authorship of many of my reviews. My sole response was to publish the complete index of my reviews in an addendum to Athenaeum. Let me remark here that although I did indeed proof and submit all the reviews enumerated in that list, I did receive help with them. How otherwise could I have managed to deal with such a mass of inferior books? Only later, during the years 1804–7, when Goethe took over guidance of the Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung, did I once again contribute at his invitation.”
Wilhelm continues on the next page of that introduction (Kritische Schriften 1:xvii–xviii):
“Those works marked by an asterisk in the table of contents are not entirely my own, coming instead in part from the hand of an intelligent woman who possessed all the talents to shine as an author but whose ambition was not pointed in that direction. In ‘Die Gemählde,’ although the dialogue and the appended poems are my work, the descriptions are so only in part.”
According to these remarks, at least part and in some cases all of the following material comes from Caroline’s hand:
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(1*) Review of Friedrich Schulz,
1.Kleine Romane, vols. 1–5 (Leipzig: Göschen 1788–90).
2.Leopoldine: ein Seitenstück zum Moritz, parts 1–2 (Leipzig: Göschen 1791).
3.Kleine Prosaische Schriften, vols. 1–5 (Weimar: Hoffmann 1788–1795).
4.Gesammelte Romane, part 3, Henriette von England (Berlin: Vieweg 1794) (also under the title M. M. Pioche de LaVergne de LaFayette, Henriette von England, German ed. Friedrich Schulz.
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1797) 130 (Tuesday, 25 April 1797) 217–24; 131 (Wednesday, 26 April 1797) 225-32.
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(2*) Review of August Wilhelm Iffland,
1. Das Vermächtniß : ein Schauspiel in fünf Aufzügen (Leipzig: Göschen 1796).
2. Die Advokaten: ein Schauspiel in 5 Aufzügen (Leipzig: Göschen 1796).
3. Dienstpflicht: ein Schauspiel in fünf Aufzügen (Leipzig: Göschen 1796).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1797) 188 (Wednesday, 14 June 1797) 681–87.
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(3*) “Ueber Shakespeare’s Romeo und Julia,” in Die Horen (1797) 10. Band, 6. Stück 18–48.
(1*) Review of Friedrich Schulz,
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(2*) Review of August Wilhelm Iffland,
1. Das Vermächtniß : ein Schauspiel in fünf Aufzügen (Leipzig: Göschen 1796).
2. Die Advokaten: ein Schauspiel in 5 Aufzügen (Leipzig: Göschen 1796).
3. Dienstpflicht: ein Schauspiel in fünf Aufzügen (Leipzig: Göschen 1796).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1797) 188 (Wednesday, 14 June 1797) 681–87.
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(3*) “Ueber Shakespeare’s Romeo und Julia,” in Die Horen (1797) 10. Band, 6. Stück 18–48.
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(3*) “Ueber Shakespeare’s Romeo und Julia,” in Die Horen (1797) 10. Band, 6. Stück 18–48.
As seen in the above vignette, a translation of this essay by Julius Charles Hare appeared in Ollier’s Literary Miscellany in Prose and Verse by several hands. To be continued occasionally, no. I (London 1820) 1–39, and is included in this edition.
And three of Caroline’s contributions to Athenaeum:
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(4*) Mode-Romane. Lafontaine 1798, in Athenaeum 1,1 (1798) 149–67.
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(5*) “Die Gemählde. Ein Gespräch von W.,” in Athenaeum 2,1 (1799) 39–151. Because of its length and the difficulty in assessing Caroline’s specific contribution, this piece likely warrants its own annotated edition. As Wilhelm remarks (see above), the descriptions in this piece were from his own hand “only in part”; he remarks similarly in a letter to Goethe on 8 March 1799 that “most of the painting descriptions as well as the material concerning Raphael are by her.”
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(6) On Johannes Müller’s Letters, in Athenäum 2,2 (1799) 313–16
(4*) Mode-Romane. Lafontaine 1798, in Athenaeum 1,1 (1798) 149–67.
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(5*) “Die Gemählde. Ein Gespräch von W.,” in Athenaeum 2,1 (1799) 39–151. Because of its length and the difficulty in assessing Caroline’s specific contribution, this piece likely warrants its own annotated edition. As Wilhelm remarks (see above), the descriptions in this piece were from his own hand “only in part”; he remarks similarly in a letter to Goethe on 8 March 1799 that “most of the painting descriptions as well as the material concerning Raphael are by her.”
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(6) On Johannes Müller’s Letters, in Athenäum 2,2 (1799) 313–16
II. Caroline’s Probable Anonymous Contributions to the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung
Regarding the probably numerous literary reviews Caroline may have published anonymously for Wilhelm Schlegel in the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung, there is reason to believe the following may have come from her hand, though, again, no certainty is possible:
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(1) Hamburg, in der Mutzenbecherschen Buch.: Amaliens Feyerstunden. Auswahl der hinterlassenen Schriften von Marianne Ehrmann. Volume 1. Amaliens Schreibtafel. 1796. 307 pages. 8vo. (20 gr.). The same book under the special title: Amaliens Schreibtafel. Fragmente für Freundinnen des Nachdenkens.
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1796) 401 (Wednesday, 28 December 1796) 747–48.
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(2) Leipzig, in d. Wolfischen Buchh.: Meine Liebschaften. Ein nachgelassenes Werk by Chabanon, edited by Saint-Ange. Translated from the French. 1797. VIII and 205 pages. 8vo. (12 gr.).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1797) 42 (Tuesday, 7 February 1797) 335–36.
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(3) Berlin, b. Unger: Herzensergiessungen eines kunstliebenden Klosterbruders. 1797. 275 pages. 8vo. With a portrait of Raphael. (20 gr.).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1797) 46 (Friday, 10 February 1797) 361–65.
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(4) Meissen, b. Erbstein: Nonne und Aebtissin im Wochenbette, oder die Frucht der Schwärmerey, eine Geschichte einzig in ihrer Art. Vom Mann im grauen Rocke. 197. 504 pages. 8vo. (1 Rthlr. 8 gr.).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1798) 23 (Saturday, 20 January 1798) 183–84.
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(5) With the alleged place of publication Gynäkopolis and at the expense of the German Union of Brethren: Neueste Entdeckungen im Reiche der Weiber und Mädchen. Durch eine Reise veranlasst. Volume 1. 1797. XII and 170 pages. 8vo. (14 gr.), and
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(6) No place of publication: Und er soll dein Herr sein. I Mos. 3,16 [Gen 3:16]. Ein Beytrag zur Berichtigung neuer Missverständnisse und zur Abstellung alter Missbräuche. 1797. VIII and 55 pages. 8vo. (6 gr.).
Both in the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1798) 223 (Monday, 23 July 1798) 166–68.
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(7) Leipzig, b. Göschen: Die Gesundbrunnen. Ein Gedicht in vier Gesängen. By Valerius Wilhelm Neubeck, Doctor of the Medical Sciences. In Latin font. 1798. 94 pages. Folio. The same in German font. 112 pages. g. (16 gr.).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1798) 374 (Saturday, 8 December 1798) 633–36.
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(8) Zürich, b. Gessner: Orlando der rasende, mit Anmerkungen und vorausgeschicktem Auszuge des Orlando inamorato. Volume 1. 1797. 109 and 251 pages. Volume 2. 1798. 411 pages. 8vo.
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1799) 136 (Monday, 29 April 1799) 257–62.
(1) Hamburg, in der Mutzenbecherschen Buch.: Amaliens Feyerstunden. Auswahl der hinterlassenen Schriften von Marianne Ehrmann. Volume 1. Amaliens Schreibtafel. 1796. 307 pages. 8vo. (20 gr.). The same book under the special title: Amaliens Schreibtafel. Fragmente für Freundinnen des Nachdenkens.
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1796) 401 (Wednesday, 28 December 1796) 747–48.
(2) Leipzig, in d. Wolfischen Buchh.: Meine Liebschaften. Ein nachgelassenes Werk by Chabanon, edited by Saint-Ange. Translated from the French. 1797. VIII and 205 pages. 8vo. (12 gr.).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1797) 42 (Tuesday, 7 February 1797) 335–36.
(3) Berlin, b. Unger: Herzensergiessungen eines kunstliebenden Klosterbruders. 1797. 275 pages. 8vo. With a portrait of Raphael. (20 gr.).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1797) 46 (Friday, 10 February 1797) 361–65.
(4) Meissen, b. Erbstein: Nonne und Aebtissin im Wochenbette, oder die Frucht der Schwärmerey, eine Geschichte einzig in ihrer Art. Vom Mann im grauen Rocke. 197. 504 pages. 8vo. (1 Rthlr. 8 gr.).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1798) 23 (Saturday, 20 January 1798) 183–84.
(5) With the alleged place of publication Gynäkopolis and at the expense of the German Union of Brethren: Neueste Entdeckungen im Reiche der Weiber und Mädchen. Durch eine Reise veranlasst. Volume 1. 1797. XII and 170 pages. 8vo. (14 gr.), and
(6) No place of publication: Und er soll dein Herr sein. I Mos. 3,16 [Gen 3:16]. Ein Beytrag zur Berichtigung neuer Missverständnisse und zur Abstellung alter Missbräuche. 1797. VIII and 55 pages. 8vo. (6 gr.).
Both in the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1798) 223 (Monday, 23 July 1798) 166–68.
(7) Leipzig, b. Göschen: Die Gesundbrunnen. Ein Gedicht in vier Gesängen. By Valerius Wilhelm Neubeck, Doctor of the Medical Sciences. In Latin font. 1798. 94 pages. Folio. The same in German font. 112 pages. g. (16 gr.).
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1798) 374 (Saturday, 8 December 1798) 633–36.
(8) Zürich, b. Gessner: Orlando der rasende, mit Anmerkungen und vorausgeschicktem Auszuge des Orlando inamorato. Volume 1. 1797. 109 and 251 pages. Volume 2. 1798. 411 pages. 8vo.
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1799) 136 (Monday, 29 April 1799) 257–62.
III. Caroline and Schelling’s Anonymous Contributions to the Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung
(under the pseudonyms Bss, MZ, N + d):
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(1) Bss [Caroline], review of
Nathan der Weise. Schauspiel von Lessing. Travestirt und modernisiert in fünf Aufzügen (Berlin, Wien: Nathan und Comp., 1804).
Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1805) 65 (18 March 1805) 519–20.
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(2) Bss [Caroline], review of
Wilhelm Calezki, Poetische Versuche (no place, no date [Halle 1805]).
(2) Bss [Caroline], review of
Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1805) 65 (18 March 1805) 520.
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(3) MZ [Caroline], review of
C. A. von Chamisso and K. A. Varnhagen, Musenalmanach auf das Jahr 1805 (Berlin: Frölich, 1805).
(3) MZ [Caroline], review of
Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1805) 107 (6 May 1805) 241–45.
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(4) Bss [Caroline], review of
Samuel Gottlieb Bürde, Poetische Schriften, volume 2 (Breslau, Leipzig: Korn, 1805).
(4) Bss [Caroline], review of
Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1805) 153 (28 June 1805) 611–13.
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(5) Bss [Caroline and Schelling], review of:
(Schelling reviews the first three novels, Caroline the remaining)
1. Johanne Soutgate, die neue Prophetin in England. Ein Gemählde des Mysticismus aus unsern Tagen. Aus den Memoiren des Herzogs von **ingham und den Ritualien des neu erstandenen Ordens Christi, vols. 1–2 (Erfurt: Hennings, 1805).
2. Theodore Ferdinand Kajetan Arnold [a.k.a. Ignatz Ferdinand Arnold], Amalie Balbi. Eine wunderbare Vision, die ich selbst gehabt habe (Erfurt: Hennings, no date).
3. Author of Das silberne Kalb [Georg (or Gustav) Teubner], Die silberne Kuh, vols. 1–3 (Erfurt: Hennings, 1805).
Erich Frank (see below) has determined from elements of style that Caroline’s contribution begins with review no. 4; she reviews the remaining books (5–11) as well.
4. Das unglückliche Weib, ein Gemählde aus der jetzigen Welt, volumes 1–2 (Erfurt: Hennings, no date).
5. Author of Das Weib, wie es ist [Gustav Schilling], Röschens Geheimnisse, 2 parts, 3rd ed. (Dresden: Arnold, 1805).
6. Karl Gottlieb Cramer, Nettchens Hochzeit (Rudolstadt: Langbein und Klüger, 1805).
7. Züge edler Liebe in Erzählungen nach wahren Geschichten (Elberfeld: Büschler, 1805).
8. Elmonde, das Kind des Geheimnisses, after the French of Ducray-Duminil, adapted by Karl Ludwig Methusalem Müller, 4 vols. (Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1805).
9. Author of Maria Müller [Charlotte von Ahlefeld], Liebe und Entsagung, parts 1–2 (Berlin: Unger, 1805).
10. Julius Graf von Soden, Zoe. Ein hohes Ideal zarter Weiblichkeit. Aus dem Archive der Familie von E– gezogen (Berlin: Maurer, 1805).
11. Friederike Weiss und ihre Töchter. Eine Geschichte, ed. Ernst Christian Trapp (Berlin: Frölich, 1805).
Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1806) 35 (11 February 1806) 273–80.
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(6) Bss [Caroline], review of
Author of Die graue Mappe [Johann Christian Ludwig Haken], Bibliothek der Robinsone in zweckmässigen Auszügen, volume 1 (Berlin: Unger, 1805), and [Christian August Vulpius], Bibliothek des Romantisch-Wunderbaren, vols. 1 and 2 (Leipzig: Steinacker, 1805).
(6) Bss [Caroline], review of
Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1806) 42 (19 February 1806) 334–36.
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(7) N + d [Schelling; not included], review of
August von Kotzebue, Kleine Romane, Erzählungen, Anekdoten und Miscellen, volume 1 (Leipzig 1805).
(7) N + d [Schelling; not included], review of
Jenaische allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1806) 82 (7 April 1806) 41–48.
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(8) N + d [Caroline], review of
Wilhelm Neumann [and Karl August Varnhagen], Erzählungen und Spiele (Hamburg: Schmidt, 1807) and Wilhelm Eulogius Meyer, Eros (Berlin: Maurer, 1805).
(8) N + d [Caroline], review of
Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1807) 120 (23 May 1807) 345–50.
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(9) N + d [Schelling; not included], review of
August von Kotzebue, Kleine Romane, Erzählungen, Anekdoten und Miscellen, vols. 2–4 (Leipzig 1805–6), and A. E. [Christian August Gottlob] Eberhard, Gesammelte Erzählungen, volume 3 (Leipzig 1806).
(9) N + d [Schelling; not included], review of
Jenaische Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung (1809) 36 (13 February 1809) 281–87.
Also included:
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Erich Frank, Rezensionen über schöne Literatur von Schelling und Caroline in der Neuen Jenaischen Literatur-Zeitung. Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften. Philosophisch-historische Klasse, Jahrgang 1912, 1. Abhandlung (Heidelberg 1912) 1–12 (introduction), 46–58 (annotations).
And from the
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Excerpts from the correspondence between Caroline, Schelling, and Wilhelm Schlegel concerning the performance of Wilhelm’s play Ion in Weimar on 2 January 1802 as played out in the Zeitung für die elegante Welt:
(1802) 7 (16 January) [Caroline],
(1802) 25 (27 February) [Wilhelm],
(1802) 41 (6 April) [Wilhelm or someone prompted by him],
(1802) 90, 91 (29, 31 July) [Caroline or Schelling], and
(1802) 100, 101 (21, 24 August) [Wilhelm].