RAABE, , Wilhelm, German novelist
and poet: b. Eschershausen, duchy of Brunswick, 8 Sept. 1831: d. 15 Nov. 1910, in the city of Braunschweig. After attending the gymnasia in Holzminden and Wolfenbüttel, he entered a book store as apprentice in 1849. He used this opportunity for wide reading and enriched himself with the tales and folklore of his own and other countries. In 1855 he entered the University of Berlin to study the humanities. In the autumn of 1856 appeared his first book, ‘Die Chronik der Sperlingsgasse,’ under the pseudonym Jakob Corvinus. The book, which contains sketches of life among
the German bourgeoisie, was very successful
and Raabe became well known. Being thus
encouraged he gave up his studies and devoted
himself entirely to literary work. From 1862
to 1870 he lived in Stuttgart. Then he again
returned to Braunschweig and remained active
until the end of the century, publishing upwards
of 30 novels and a number of short stories and
sketches.
His life work may be divided into three
periods. During the first he wrote with a light
touch, producing a series of pictures of German
life from the abundance of his imagination
and experience, among which are ‘Die
Chronik der Sperlingsgasse’ (1856), ‘Die
Kinder von Finkenrode’ (1859) and ‘Unser
Herrgotts Kanzlei’ (1862). The influence of
the pessimism of Schopenhauer is evident during
the second period. Representative works of
this period are ‘Der Hungerpastor’ (1864), ‘Abu Telfan’ (1867), and ‘Der Schüd derump’ (1870). These three works are sometimes referred to as a trilogy. While they are independent of each other in substance, they do represent a distinct epoch in the life of Raabe.
During the third period of the novelist's
life his works no longer show this pessimistic
strain. A genial humor pervades them, though
they frequently deal with serious subjects. ‘Horacker’ (1876) perhaps best represents this tendency. ‘Der Dräumling’ (1872), and ‘Deutscher Mondschein’ (1873), also come under this head. Of his numerous later works ‘Das Odfeld’ (1889) and ‘Die Akten des Vogelsangs’ (1895) seem to be most read.
Raabe has been continually gaining in the
estimation of the German people. This was
especially shown at the celebration of his 70th
birthday in 1901. He is perhaps the most
distinctly German of modern novelists and story
writers. There is hardly a situation in the life
of the average German that has not been
portrayed by Raabe. His early works were
influenced to some extent by Jean Paul. Later
he also shows evidences of having read Dickens
and Thackeray. In 1911 a selection of Raabe's
poems was published. Consult Brandes, W., ‘Wilhelm Raabe’ (Wolfenbüttel and Berlin 1906); Gerber, Paul, ‘Wilhelm Raabe, Eine Würdigung seiner Dichtungen’ (Leipzig 1897); ‘Gesammelte Erzählungen’ (2d ed., Berlin 1901); Spiero, H., ‘Wilhelm Raabe’ (Bielefeld 1911).