Jena 1800: The Republic of Free Spirits

Young German poets and thinkers went to Jena in the 19th century to question traditional social, political, and religious norms. They were influenced by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and sought to establish a republic of free spirits. Peter Neumann's Jena 1800 is a work of intellectual history that brings this remarkable circle of friends and rivals to life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: St Martin's Press

At the dawn of the 19th century, a steady flow of young German poets and thinkers converged upon the town of Jena, driven by a fervent desire to shape history. In the aftermath of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, a profound uncertainty replaced confidence in traditional social, political, and religious norms, instilling both fear and exhilaration among those who embraced it. Among the most vibrant expressions of this intellectual ferment were the extraordinary group of poets, philosophers, translators, and socialites who gathered in Jena. This small village of just four thousand residents quickly emerged as a Mecca for the young and intellectually curious, seeking philosophical disruption and enlightenment. Influenced by the esteemed elder statesman and artistic luminary Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the leading disruptors, including the translator August Wilhelm Schlegel, philosophers Friedrich Schlegel and Friedrich Schelling, the dazzling and controversial intellectual Caroline Schlegel, married to August, the poet and translator Dorothea Schlegel, married to Friedrich, and the poets Ludwig Tieck and Novalis, resolved to reimagine the world and establish a republic of free spirits. They went beyond questioning inherited societal traditions; with their provocative views of the individual and nature, they revolutionized our understanding of freedom and reality. In his captivating work, Jena 1800: A Tale of Friends and Rivals, Peter Neumann vividly brings to life this remarkable circle of friends and rivals, crafting an intellectual history that is vibrant, passionate, informative, and intimate. With wit and elegance, Neumann paints a vivid portrait of this era, revealing fresh insights and surprises that are as captivating as its subjects.

Weight: 300g
Dimension: 208 x 135 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781250862938