The German writer has made a name for the recording of long talks with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Johann Peter Eckermann’s well-known “Conversations with Goethe in the last years of his life” (1836) – as the title of the work – were not published until with the death of poet laureate. They give to posterity a depiction of Goethe in everyday life. Johann Peter Eckermann has also managed the literary estate of Goethe. Eckermann’s own lyrical works were considered insignificant and was therefore no longer be issued …
Johann Peter Eckermann was the youngest child of Johann Adolf Eckermann and his wife Maria Dorothea, born Schierhorn, 21 Born in July 1792 Winsen on the Luhe.
Eckermann attended irregularly during the period 1799 to 1808, the school. He went with his father around as a peddler. On the walks he was impressed by the nature of the Lüneburg Heath, the four-country and the Elbe marshes. The mother worked as a seamstress and Wollspinnerin. Eckermann grew up in poverty. Because of his talent was encouraged Eckermann and took private lessons in French, Latin and music. In 1808 he was then clerk in Winsen and then went in 1810 with this activity Lüneburg, a year later to Uelzen and in the period from 1813 to 1812 and Bevensen.
He took part in 1813 as a volunteer in the wars of liberation against France. He arrived in Flanders and Brabant in contact with Dutch painting, for which he is enthusiastic. With the war he went to Hanover to Malschüler when the painter will Rambach. But an illness thwarted the plot. There, in Hanover, he was instead working as a registrar in the military handing out, and he followed his literary interests. The works of Friedrich Schiller, William Shakespeare, Sophocles, Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock and Theodor Körner belonged to his reading. And he even started to write poetry.
From 1815 he attended high school. Eckermann was impressed by the poems of Goethe. In 1819 he became engaged to Johanna Bertram from Northeim. In 1821 he started law studies in Göttingen, he was made possible by the support of sponsors from Hanover. Shortly with the thrash to philology remained from the scholarship, Eckermann matured about 1822 by Empelde. There he devoted himself to writing poetry as a freelance writer. His writing “Donations to poetry, with special allusion to Goethe” was released. The work gave him access to Goethe later. In May 1823, Goethe received or to be sent to the writing staff Riemer.
Goethe responded favorably to the work. Eckermann went on a trip to Weimar, and was received by Goethe. Immediately received by Johann Peter Eckermann also an order from him, the others followed. Eckermann’s “Donations to poetry,” went on the initiative of Goethe by Cotta in the pressure. Eckermann, respectively, remained in Weimar in Goethe’s close. Even an offer of the international literary magazine “European Review” could not lure him, and thus may initiate its own literary career. The orders Goethe remained without a fee. Eckermann gave classes and did other work to earn his bread.
Among other things he taught from 1829 to 1835 the late Grand Duke Carl Alexander. In November 1825 due to the efforts of Eckermann Goethe honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Jena. 1826 trips followed Bleckede / Elbe, Hamburg, Hanover and Stade. 1830 Eckermann, with Goethe’s son Dignified took a trip to Italy. In 1831 he married his fiancée Johanna Bertram long. On 26 March 1834 was born son of Johann Friedrich Wolfgang. Johanna died shortly afterwards Eckermann. Son Charles later became a painter. Eckermann Goethe entrusted with the organization and publication of his letters and poems.
Together with his staff he was determined Riemer will and testament as manager and editor of the literary estate. Eckermann, made the “Conversations with Goethe in the last years of his life” on. This well-known work covers the period from 1823 to 1832, in which Eckermann led the talks with his model. Eckermann intended this work to make a literary work. During his lifetime he gave Goethe did not have permission, the work printed, although it would have helped the author from his hard economic situation. They were not published until 1836 and give posterity an impressive depiction of the poet laureate of everyday life.
Even the appointment of Councillor in 1843 improved its financial situation does not suggest itself. The following year, he had to flee because of its high debt load in Weimar. The court of Weimar paid Eckermann’s debts, so that in May 1846 he again returned there. Nevertheless, the grants ranged only a humble life in the royal city of Weimar. In addition to the poverty he also made his failing health to make. From 1836 he was once again on pleasure trips or spa stays, for example, made in Hamburg, Heligoland and Norderney.
Johann Peter Eckermann, died on 3 December 1854 in Weimar. He was buried next to the royal crypt, where the mortal remains of Goethe and Schiller were housed.
