Swiss Literature

Switzerland shared also in the production of the mystical and humanist writings that heralded the Reformation. Perhaps the most notable Swiss mystic is Elsbeth Stagel (d. c. 1355), a nun of Toss, near Zurich. She was an ardent disciple of the German mystic Heinrich Suso (b. at Constance).

The first stirrings of Humanism in Switzerland may be attrib uted to the visit of the Italian scholar Poggio to St. Gall (1416) and to the Councils of Constance (1416-18) and Basle Aeneas Sylvius, present at the latter, founded the University of Basle a little later A zealous disciple of these two scholars was Niklaus von Wyl, an Argovian (b. c. 1410), who is an out standing figure in the chronicles of Humanism.

Effects of the Reformation.

The literature of German Switzerland in the 16th century was, like that of French Switzer land, mainly a product of the Protestant Reformation. Though Zwingli was a less powerful literary force than Luther or Calvin, his enthusiasm for progress included many secular as well as religious interests. The Zurich Bible, largely consisting of Luther's version, was issued in 1531. The drama, too, still in a somewhat primitive form, was mainly in the hands of the Protestants. Zwingli's colleague and successor Heinrich Bullinger (q.v.) wrote at least one play. The most prominent literary name of the period is that of Nicholas Manuel (1484-1550), the painter, who wrote also many plays and satires. Jakob Ruf (d. 1558) resuscitated the old Urnerspiel, dealing with the William Tell legend.

The chroniclers of the 16th century are of more significance for us than the drama, inasmuch as they deal with still-living facts. Among the most important are the brilliant and fanciful Giles Tschudi (q.v.), though he wrote mainly in Latin; Johannes Stumpf (q.v.), an annalist of more accuracy if of less charm; and Josias Simler (153o-76), writing in Latin. Joachim von Watt of St. Gall, known as Vadianus (1484-1551), compiled an inter esting chronicle of the abbots. Valerius Anshelm (d. 154o) told the story of Berne down to 1536. Bullinger (q.v.) and Hans Salat (d. c. 1552) wrote narratives of the Swiss Reformation from op posite points of view. The journal of Andreas Ryff (1550-1603) gives us a picture of the daily life of a pious merchant of the day.

The autobiographies of the father and son, Thomas and Felix Platter (d. 1582 and 1614), are among the most charming prose works of the period. Konrad von Gesner (q.v.) wrote in Latin and ranks as a naturalist and scholar rather than as an author. The realm of imaginative prose is scantily represented by Wil helm Ziely (d. c. 1542), who translated French romances, and Johann Wetzel, who published oriental tales, after an Italian model.

The 18th Century Revival.—Signs of revival begin with the 18th century. Zurich, Berne and Basle were the chief lit erary centres. The prevailing spirit was one of liberal Protestant ism; one indication of this being the growing influence of English authors at the expense of French. Friedrich Drollinger (1688 1742) of Basle (though born in Baden), translator of Pope, forms a link with the revival of Swiss literature represented by Haller of Berne and Rousseau of Geneva.

Albrecht von Haller (q.v.), though specially distinguished as a scientific writer, is a notable figure in pure literature, both for his contemporary influence (in Germany as well as in Switzer land) and as one of the first of the early authors who is still read with appreciation. His long poem on the Alps (Die Alpen, 1732) did much to stimulate Swiss patriotism and interest in Swiss scenery ; and his friend Goethe called him "the father of national poetry." His son, Gottlieb Emanuel von Haller 86), produced, in his Bibliotliek der Schweizergeschichte, a work that is still indispensable to the historical student. Among Hal ler's followers are the poets J. K. Peyer of Sachshausen (1707 68), Samuel Grimm of Burgdorf (1733-94) and Vinzenz von Tscharner of Berne (1728-78).

A prominent literary figure of Basle in this period was Isaac Iselin (1728-83), the chief begetter of the Helvetic Society (see below), whose treatises on the philosophy of history (Geschichte der Menschheit, 1764) and ideal philosophy (Philosophische and Patriotische Triiume eines Menschenfreundes, 1775) were elo quent expositions of the idealistic and patriotic movement of his day. Otherwise Basle was more prominent as a scientific centre, notably with the eminent mathematicians, Leonard Euler (q.v.) and the Bernoullis (q.v.).