Justinus Kerner
Justinus Kerner was a notable German poet and medical writer born in Ludwigsburg in 1786, recognized as a key figure in the Swabian poetry circle, which represented the final phase of German Romanticism. His poetry often combined lyrical elements with the ballad tradition, influenced by renowned poets like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. After earning his medical degree from the University of Tübingen in 1808, Kerner collaborated with fellow Swabian poets on significant literary works, including the *Poetischer Almanach* and *Deutscher Dichterwald*, both published in the early 1810s. In addition to his literary pursuits, he maintained a medical career, becoming a regional medical officer in 1815 and relocating to Weinsberg, where his home became a gathering place for literary figures. Kerner's most celebrated work, *Die Seherin von Prevorst*, was inspired by his encounter with a clairvoyant in 1826 and explored themes of the human inner life and supernatural phenomena. He faced challenges later in life, retiring from medicine due to blindness in 1851 and passing away in 1862. Kerner's poetry is characterized by a blend of humor, melancholy, and an intrigue with both natural and supernatural elements, contributing to his lasting legacy in both literature and medical writing.
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Subject Terms
Justinus Kerner
Poet
- Born: September 18, 1786
- Birthplace: Ludwigsburg, Württemberg, Germany
- Died: February 21, 1862
- Place of death: Weinsberg, Germany
Biography
Born in Ludwigsburg, Germany, in 1786, poet and medical writer Justinius Kerner was a chief member of the Swabian poetry circle, the last phase of German Romanticism. The Swabians combined lyrical poetry with the ballad tradition of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Kerner received his medical degree in 1808 from the University of Tübingen, where he met fellow Swabian poets Ludwig Uhland and Gustav Schwab. He and Schwab collaborated on two volumes: the Poetischer Almanach in 1812, and the Deutscher Dichterwald in 1813. Many scholars consider Kerner’s work in these early volumes to be among his best.
Although a productive and respected poet, Kerner continued practicing medicine and was appointed regional medical officer in 1815. He relocated to Weinsberg and was given a plot of land at the foot of the Schloss Weibertreu. The house he built there was a mecca for poets and literary acolytes for the duration of his life. A visit by the famous clairvoyant Friederike Hauffe in 1826 inspired Kerner’s most famous work, Die Seherin von Prevorst, Eröffnungen über das innere Leben des Menschen und über das Hineinragen einer Geisterwelt in die unsere (1829).
Kerner retired from medical practice due to blindness in 1851, and was tended by his daughters until his death in 1862. Kerner is noted for the humor of his poetry, mixed with both melancholy and a fascination with natural and supernatural phenomena. During his life, however, he was also well regarded for his medical writing, including a popular treatise on animal magnetism, and for his historical and autobiographical narrative.