100th anniversary of death of Theodor Storm - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1988 - 80 Pfennig

Theodor Storm is one of the poets of German Poetic Realism. His works are still widely read today. Even outside Germany are his short stories, z. B. "The White Horse Rider" and his poems, z. For example, "The City" (On the gray beach, on the gray sea), known. Theodor Storm was born on September 14, 1817 in Husum, a small seaside town in the Duchy of Schleswig, the son of a lawyer and notary (Schleswig was then part of the Danish state). Storm's ancestors were paternal Erbpachtmüller from Westermühlen near Rendsburg and maternal merchants and senators in Husum. After completing his first years at the Husum scholar's school, Storm completed his education at the Katharineum in Lübeck (Storm: there was "higher air, more important people"). From 1837 to 1842 he studied law at the universities of Kiel and Berlin. Even as a student, he began to write poetry and publish. With Tycho and Theodor Mommsen (the later famous historian) he published in 1843 a collection of his own poems under the title "songbook of three friends." But, as he said, that was just "wing checking." In 1843, Storm opened his own law practice in Husum; In 1846 he married Constanze Esmarch, his cousin, from Segeberg. In these years falls his first creative period. With »Immensee« (1849/50) the first big hit was achieved. The resigned mood of this novel corresponded to the mood of the times after the failed revolution of 1848 and at that time found many readers. The first great poems (such as "The City," "October Song," "You Will not Say It In Words") appeared in a small volume of poems (Kiel, 1852). During the Schleswig-Holstein survey against Denmark (1848 - 1850) Storm stood on the side of his compatriots. His political commitment led after the failure of the liberation movement to repeal his appointment as a lawyer by the Danish king. He found a shelter in the Prussian judicial service, first in Potsdam, later in Heiligenstadt. For nearly twelve years he had to stay out of the country, often tortured by homesickness. Nevertheless, it was stimulating and fruitful years. Friendships that lasted a lifetime were closed. a. with Theodor Fontane and Paul Heyse. Significant novellas have emerged, eg. "In the State Court" and "In the Castle". The poems "Sea Beach," "For My Sons," and "Consolation" date from this period and are among the most beautiful Storm has written. The occupation of Schleswig-Holstein by troops of the German Confederation, by Austrians and Prussians in 1864 gave the Husumern the opportunity to recall Theodor Storm to his native city. As governor of the office Husum (including the Halligen and islands), later as magistrate, he worked here from 1864 to 1880. Meanwhile, 6 children were born; at the birth of the 7th child died 1865 Mrs. Constanze. After the remarriage (Mrs. Do = Dorothea Jensen), Storm's most fertile poetic period began. With the novel "Draußen im Heidedorf" (1872), he made the breakthrough to a convincing realism. More than 20 short stories have been written in Husum, including the father-son novella "Carsten Curator", the chronicle novella "Aquis submersus" and "The Sons of the Senator". In 1880 Storm let himself - now district judge - retire. In order to begin a new period as a poet, he decided to leave Husum and begin a new phase of life in the countryside, in Hademarschen, on the middle between Husum and Hamburg. In his old mansion, he has written such well-known short stories as "Hans and Heinz Kirch," "The Chronicle of Grieshuus," "A Doppelganger," and "The White Horse Rider." He died in Hademarschen on 4 July 1888 and was buried in Husum on 7 July. Storm's performance as a lyricist consists in the renewal of the epic poem. Among his poems are some, Thomas Mann said, who are worthy to take a seat next to the highest and purest, which has produced emotion and language and possesses perfect immortality. As a narrator Storm has led the German novella to one of its highlights. His best pieces are - as he himself demanded of the novella, the "strictest form of prose poetry" - "parallel poems of the drama", which emanate from a "central conflict" and the "deepest problems of human life." to treat. (Text: Prof. Dr. Karl Ernst Laage, Theodor Storm Society, Husum)