Anna Louisa Karsch
Anna Louisa Karsch, born in 1722 in Schwiebus, Silesia, was a notable German poet and one of the first women to support herself entirely through her literary work. Growing up under the care of her great-uncle, she developed a passion for reading and writing despite the demands of her daily chores. Karsch's early life included two challenging marriages, which influenced her poetry and personal experiences. She gained recognition for her verses, particularly those celebrating the military campaigns of Frederick the Great, which helped establish her reputation as a talented poet.
In the wake of personal tragedies, including the loss of her two youngest children, Karsch penned "Klagen einer Witwe," which garnered the attention of a Prussian general who invited her to live at his estate in Berlin. Her prominence continued to rise, leading to the publication of her poetry collection, "Auserlesene Gedichte," in 1764. Karsch maintained a correspondence with fellow poet Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim, providing insights into the cultural landscape of 18th-century Prussia. She passed away in 1791, in a residence built for her by the Prussian king, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering literary figure.
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Anna Louisa Karsch
Poet
- Born: December 1, 1722
- Birthplace: Schwiebus, Silesia
- Died: October 12, 1791
- Place of death: Berlin, Germany
Biography
Anna Louisa Karsch was born in 1722, in Schwiebus, in the German province of Silesia. When she was six, her mother sent her to live with her great-uncle, who taught her to read and write. She became very fond of books, which she procured from a local sheepherder, and she read as often as her copious daily chores allowed.
Karsch was an admirer of poetry, and she began to compose her own poems in her spare time. She married young, but she and her husband soon separated. She entered into a second unhappy marriage, and she continued to write poetry. Some of her verses were published in newspapers, and she began to establish a reputation as a poet of considerable talent. She wrote several poems that praised the campaigns of Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, and her favorable reputation continued to grow.
After the deaths of her two youngest children, Karsch wrote “Klagen einer Witwe,” a poem that led to an invitation from a Prussian general to live at his country estate in Berlin. Karsch soon became recognized throughout Berlin as a prominent poet and thinker. She received invitations to visit neighboring cities, and a collection of her poems, Auserlesene Gedichte, was published in 1764. She corresponded extensively with fellow poet Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim, and many of these letters have survived, offering a unique glimpse into eighteenth century Prussian life. Karsch was the first German-speaking woman to support herself entirely from her own literary works. She died in 1791 in a house that the Prussian king had built for her.