Newly-Discovered Political Poems of Wilhelm Muller

Abstract

SINCE the recent publication of the very elaborate and careful article upon Wilhelm MUller in the Eighth Book of Goedeke's Grundriss (pp. 255-278) there has been little expectation of any new sources of information concerning that poet. Not long ago, however, I learned from Dr Alfred Rosenbaum of Prague (author of the article mentioned) that the Deztsche Bldtter fiur Poesie, Litteratur, Kunst und Theater (published during 1823 in Breslau by Schall and Karl von Holtei) contain a large number of contributions, many of which are quite unknown. Two expeditions to Berlin proved fruitless, but after much correspondence I was fortunate enough to receive by post the volume which belongs to the University of Breslau. The journal, which was one of the multifarious enterprises of that adventurous free-lance, Karl von Holtei, appeared four times a week, and shows an unexpected distinction of form: there is hardly another magazine of the period which exhibits such chaste proportions, elegant simplicity of arrangement, clearness of print, and excellence of paper. Holtei had already met Miller during a visit to Berlin in 1817, when Holtei was taken up by the circle of the Gesellschafter. Miller proved very congenial, and secured Holtei's introduction to the manager of the Berlin Theatre, which did not, however, lead to the acceptance of his unknown plays, as he had hoped. Again in August, 1820, Miiller happened to meet Holtei in Saxon Switzerland, at a time when the latter was starting upon a tour as vagrant reciter. The poet remonstrated with him, urged him to go upon the stage, and furnished him with an introduction to Tieck, who at once gave him an engagement in the Dresden Royal Theatre (Holtei, Vierzig Jahre, 3, 238 if.). When Holtei established his short-lived Obernigker Bote in Silesia in 1822, Miller contributed to it on September 23 the poem Dem alterlichen Brautpaare, which was not republished until 1868, from another source (Max MUiller's ed. 1, 111).