Gottfried Keller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gottfried Keller
Keller around 1885
Born	(1819-07-19)19 July 1819 Zürich, Switzerland
Died	15 July 1890(1890-07-15) (aged 70) Zürich, Switzerland
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Gottfried Keller (born July 19, 1819 – died July 15, 1890) was a famous Swiss writer and poet. He wrote in German. He is best known for his novel Green Henry and his collection of short stories called The People from Seldwyla. Keller became one of the most popular storytellers of his time. He was known for his realistic style of writing in the late 1800s.

Early Life and Challenges

Gottfried Keller was born in Zürich, Switzerland. His father, Rudolf Keller, worked with wood. His mother was Elisabeth Scheuchzer. They had six children, but only Gottfried and his sister Regula survived.

When Gottfried was young, his father died from a lung illness. This meant his family lived in poverty. Keller also had problems with his teachers at school. He later wrote about these difficult times in his long novel, Der grüne Heinrich. His mother tried her best to give him a happy childhood. She saved food for him and let him choose what he wanted to do. You can read about their relationship in his short story, “Frau Regel Amrain und ihr jüngster.”

From Art to Writing

Gottfried Keller first dreamed of becoming a painter. After some trouble at school, he became an apprentice to a landscape painter in 1834. Later, he studied with a watercolor artist. In 1840, he went to Munich, Germany, to study art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

Starting a Literary Career

Keller returned to Zürich in 1842. Even though he was talented at art, he started writing instead. He published his first poems, Gedichte, in 1846. From 1848 to 1850, he studied at the University of Heidelberg. There, he was influenced by the philosopher Feuerbach. This made his political and religious ideas even stronger.

From 1850 to 1856, Keller lived and worked in Berlin. This time helped him grow as a person and a writer. He faced some tough times, even hunger. But living in a big city helped him appreciate the simpler life in his home city of Zürich. It was in Berlin that he decided to focus on writing as his main career.

Gottfried Keller in 1860

Famous Works and Stories

During his time in Berlin, Keller published his novel Der grüne Heinrich (Green Henry). This book was very personal. It was based on his own youth and his journey as a painter. The first version of the book was not very popular. But the second version, published in 1879, became a well-loved story.

He also published his first collection of short stories, Die Leute von Seldwyla (The People of Seldwyla). This book has five stories. Two of the most famous are “Die drei gerechten Kammacher” and “Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe.” “Die drei gerechten Kammacher” criticizes certain ways of life. “Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe” is a sad story. It is like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet but set in a Swiss village.

Gottfried Keller memorial at Enge (Zürich) harbour

Life as a Secretary

In 1861, Keller returned to Zürich again. He became the First Official Secretary for the Canton of Zürich. This job gave him a steady routine. It allowed him to continue his artistic work. In 1872, Keller published Seven Legends. These stories were about early Christian times.

After 15 years, he retired from his job in 1876. He then spent the rest of his life writing. He lived as a bachelor with his sister Regula, who was his housekeeper. Even though he could be a bit reserved, people in Zürich liked him. He became very famous before he passed away.

Why His Stories Are Important

Gottfried Keller's fame comes mostly from his short stories. He wrote many stories about everyday life. These stories showed how different people lived and faced challenges. They often had humor and showed strong characters. His stories were special because they showed life in Switzerland. They showed a free way of life and people who were independent. This was new in German literature.

He also wrote Collected Poetry (1883) and the novel Martin Salander (1886).

Gottfried Keller Foundation

In 1890, a woman named Lydia Escher created a special foundation. She named it after Gottfried Keller. Her father had supported Keller. Lydia Escher used her family's money to start the foundation. She wanted it to be a "patriotic work." The foundation was meant to help art. It also aimed to support women's independent work in the arts. However, this goal for women was not fully included in the final plan.

The Gottfried Keller Foundation is based in Winterthur

Today, the Gottfried Keller Foundation is in Winterthur. It is an important place for collecting art. It is listed as a national cultural heritage site in Switzerland.

Works in English translation

• Legends of Long Ago (1911, translated by Charles Hart Handschin).
• Seldwyla Folks (1919, translated by Wolf von Schierbrand).
  • The People of Seldwyla, and Seven Legends (1970, translated by M.D. Hottinger).
• A Village Romeo and Juliet (1952).
• Green Henry (1960, translated by A.M. Holt).
• Martin Salander (1963, translated by Kenneth Halwas).
• Two Stories (1966, edited by Lionel Thomas).
• The Banner of the Upright Seven, and Ursula; Two Novellas (1974, translated by Bayard Quincy Morgan).
• The Misused Love Letters & Regula Amrain and Her Youngest Son; Two Novellas (1974, translated by Anne Fremantle and Michael Bullock).
• Perspectives on People: Five Stories (1977, translated by Lawrence M. Washington).
• Stories (1982, edited by Frank G. Ryder).

See also

In Spanish: Gottfried Keller para niños