Christian Graf zu Stolberg
Christian Graf zu Stolberg (1748-1821) was a German poet and translator known for his contributions to literature alongside his more famous brother, Friedrich Leopold Graf zu Stolberg. While Friedrich was celebrated for his prolific output and creativity, Christian produced a notable collection of occasional poems that often celebrated German heritage and national pride. He was also a translator, having rendered ancient Greek poetry into German and translated all seven plays of Sophocles.
Christian's life included a notable journey through Switzerland with his brother and renowned author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, inspired by Goethe’s novel "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers." Throughout his career, he held various court appointments, such as Danish chamberlain and magistrate, while maintaining a commitment to government service. He married Friederike Luise von Gramm, and although they did not have children, their marriage was described as happy.
His works often reflected themes of patriotism, justice, and the virtues of the Germanic tradition. Despite some interpretations of his views as somewhat liberal, Christian's dedication remained primarily to the aristocracy. He was also influenced by poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, whose style impacted Christian's poetry, though Christian's work sometimes lacked the polish found in Klopstock's. Christian Graf zu Stolberg spent his later years in semiretirement on his estate, focusing on his writing until his death in 1821.
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Christian Graf zu Stolberg
Poet
- Born: October 15, 1748
- Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
- Died: January 18, 1821
- Place of death: Windbye, near Eckernförde, Germany
Biography
German poet and translator Christian Graf zu Stolberg was born in 1748, the older brother of poet Friedrich Leopold Graf zu Stolberg. Although Friedrich was more prolific and is generally accepted as the more talented of the two brothers, Christian produced a significant body of occasional poems, many with themes praising German heritage, and also published translations of ancient Greek poetry and all seven extant plays of Sophocles.
Christian accompanied his brother and author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on their Werther-inspired trek through Switzerland, undertaken when the brothers met Goethe in Frankfurt shortly after the publication of Goethe’s novel Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (The Sorrows of Werther), but his life after the expedition was much less eventful than his brother’s. He held an assortment of court appointments, including Danish chamberlain, a magistrate’s post in Tremsbüttel, and a position as counselor to the Schleswig Provincial Court. He married Friederike Luise von Gramm. In contrast to his brother’s large families, Christian’s marriage was childless, but it was happy, and Christian’s life was filled primarily with family, friends, an assortment of conservative religious and political affiliations, and his dedication to his government service.
Christian published several works with his brother, including two books of poems, Gedichte and Vaterlandische Gedichte. The latter, as the title might suggest, was patriotic in theme and reflected many of the concerns which occupied Christian’s solo poetry—German heritage, the restoration of the “Holy German Empire” and praise of “Germanic” virtues such as justice. Although Christian was critical of tyranny and some scholars have treated him as having somewhat liberal values, his commitment is generally to aristocracy. Christian and Freidrich also produced a book of dramas inspired by Greek plays, Schauspiele mit Choeren von den Brüdern Christian und Friedrich Leopold Grafen zu Stolberg: Erster Theil.
The poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock was a compatriot of the brothers Stolberg from the Fraternity of the Göttengen Grove, a literary society they joined while at the University of Göttengen. Although his friendship was influential on both brothers, the stamp of his influence is far more marked on Christian’s poetry than on his brother’s. Klopstock’s presence appears in Christian’s syntax, his borrowing from ancient Greek forms, and his themes, but in all cases Christian’s handling of the material lacks polish and originality. His strongest efforts are his occasional poems in which the thematic content takes priority; his passion for his characteristic themes of freedom and German heritage give these pieces a lively voice not found in his more academic efforts.
Christian Stolberg died on January 18, 1821, on his estate, Windbye, near Eckernförde, where he had lived in semiretirement, devoted to his writing and his causes, since 1806.