Kosegarten: The Turbulent Life and Times of a Northern German Poet

Rating:
Summary: WHAT A BUSY MAN!
Review: I just finished reading this book about the turbulent (and busy) life and times of Ludwig Gotthard Kosegarten and I have to say I am impressed! Lewis M. Holmes has put together a wonderful, meticulous book on the life of this little-known Northern German poet. It was quite a fun read and well worth the few hours I spent reading it. Holmes begins this biography with an introduction to the period, place, and person of Kosegarten. He gives the reader a detailed description of the island of Rugen in which Kosegarten called home (accompanied by a map of the region) and a portrait of Kosegarten by J.H. Lips. From here we jump to an event in Autumn 1807 that changed Kosegarten's life. Then begins the story of Kosegarten from birth to death, loves, losses, poetry, religion, and volumes upon volumes of published work which were burned in effigy by his own people just one year before his death. Not knowing the German language makes it hard for someone like me to read about these figures in history (this is the first biography of Kosegarten in English) and appreciate their work (his poetry and writings are dispersed throughout this book). I highly recommend this read.