Christoph Friedrich Nicolai facts for kids
Christoph Friedrich Nicolai (born March 18, 1733, died January 11, 1811) was a German writer. He was also a bookseller, a critic, and a historian who wrote about his local area. He wrote funny novels and travel stories.
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Life of Christoph Friedrich Nicolai
Christoph Friedrich Nicolai was born in Berlin, Germany. His father, Christoph Gottlieb Nicolai, started a well-known bookselling business there. In 1749, young Nicolai went to Frankfurt (Oder) to learn about his father's business. He also found time to read many books, especially those from English literature.
Nicolai's Early Writings and Friendships
In 1752, Nicolai came back to Berlin. He quickly became involved in literary discussions. He defended the famous English writer John Milton against another writer named JC Gottsched. In 1755, Nicolai wrote a book called Briefe über den jetzigen Zustand der schönen Wissenschaften in Deutschland. This book criticized both Gottsched and his opponents from Switzerland.
Nicolai loved English literature. This interest helped him become friends with two important thinkers: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and Moses Mendelssohn. Together with Mendelssohn, he started a magazine called Bibliothek der schönen Wissenschaften in 1757. He managed this magazine until 1760.
Book Review Journals and Later Works
From 1759 to 1765, Nicolai, Lessing, and Mendelssohn worked together on a famous book review magazine. It was called Briefe, die neueste Literatur betreffend. Later, from 1765 to 1792, Nicolai edited another important book review magazine. This one was called Allgemeine deutsche Bibliothek. This magazine was a voice for thinkers who wanted to challenge old ideas in religion and literature.
Nicolai also wrote novels. His books are not as well-known today, but some were popular in his time. For example, Das Leben und die Meinungen des Herrn Magister Sebaldus Nothanker (1773–1776) was one of his famous novels. He also wrote a funny story called Freuden des jungen Werthers (1775). This story made fun of another popular book called Werther.
He also wrote about history. His book Anekdoten von König Friedrich II. von Preussen (1788–92) shared stories about Frederick II the Great, the king of Prussia. This book is still useful for understanding that time. Between 1788 and 1796, Nicolai published a long travel book. It was called Beschreibung einer Reise durch Deutschland und die Schweiz. This book showed his more traditional views later in life.
Nicolai's Unique Experience
Nicolai once wrote about a strange experience he had. He suddenly saw a figure of a person who had passed away, even though no one was there. He asked his wife if she saw it, but she did not. He called a doctor because he was worried. These visions were not something he could control. They were not related to any mental illness. A writer named Wilkie Collins even mentioned Nicolai's case in one of his short stories. He used it as an example of seeing things that are not real, but without being unwell in the mind.
Christoph Friedrich Nicolai passed away in Berlin in 1811. His portrait and a story about his life were published in a book in 1806.
See also
In Spanish: Friedrich Nicolai para niños
