Gundolf, Friedrich

POET, LITERARY EXPERT (GERMANY)
BORN 20 Jun 1880, Darmstadt, Hessen - DIED 12 Jul 1931, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg
BIRTH NAME Gundelfinger, Friedrich Leopold
CAUSE OF DEATH cancer
GRAVE LOCATION Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg: Bergfriedhof, Rohrbacher Strasse (Abteilung WA)

Friedrich Gundolf was the son of the Jewish mathematician Sigmund Gundelfinger, who was a professor at the University of Darmstadt. Friedrich studied the German language and art history in Munich, Berlin and Heidelberg. From 1916 onwards he was professor of German studies in Heidelberg.

In 1899 he had entered the circle of people around Stefan George and he contributed to George's art magazines. His love for the economist Elisabeth Salomon (1893-1958) damaged his friendship with George and after he married Elisabeth in 1926 George broke off all relations with Gundolf.

He was an expert on Shakespeare and also studied Goethe and other important authors. He published several books, including "Goethe" in 1916. He was a well a well known scholar during the Weimar republic.
Joseph Goebbels was among his students in 1920 and wanted him as his promotor, but it never happened. Another student was Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg.

In 1927 he was diagnosed with cancer. In 1930 he was awarded the Lessing Price of the City of Hamburg, but in 1931 he died of his illness. In 1933 the nazis banned his writings. Elisabeth fled to England in 1934 and died in 1958 in Oxford, also of cancer. After her death the remains of his vast library were sold.

Related persons
• was influenced by George, Stefan
• admired Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von
• was a friend of Gothein, Eberhard

Images

The grave of Friedrich Gundolf at the Bergfriedhof, Heidelberg.
Picture by Androom (21 Aug 2010)

 

Sources
Friedrich Gundolf - Wikipedia (DE)


Günther, Johann Christian

Published: 29 May 2011
Last update: 16 Nov 2023