FREYTAG, fri'tfig, Gustav, German novel ist, journalist and critic: b. Kreuzburg in Silesia, 13 July 1816; d. 30 April 1895. He was a son of the physician and burgomaster, Gottlob Ferdinand Freytag, a man of much dignity and reserve. His mother -was cheerful, sympathetic and helpful. Seiler, one of his biographers, compares Freytag's home life with that of the young Goethe. It is certain that he never suf fered any privations and had all possible assist ance in obtaining a good education. At the age of 13 he entered the gymnasium at Oels. Here he developed a taste for wide reading. Of foreign authors he became interested chiefly in Walter Scott and James Fenimore Cooper. He himself has given testimony to the influence these writers had upon him during the forma tive period of his life.
In 1835 lie left the gymnasium to enter the University of Breslau with the intention of devoting himself to the study of the classics. He came in touch here with Hoffman von Fallersleben who introduced him to the wonder land of Germanic antiquities. In the fall of 1836 be went to the University of Berlin where he attended the lectures of Karl Lachmann. According to Freytag's own account Lachmann was an inspiring teacher, and his lectures on the 'Nibelungenlied' and the history of the literature of the Middle Ages became the basis of Freytag's later studies in this field. In 1838 Freytag was granted the degree doctor of phi losophy by the University of Berlin. In 1839 he established himself as lecturer (Privatdozent) in the German language and literature at the University of Breslau, but resigned the position after only a few years, to devote himself entirely to liter ary studies. In 1848 he moved to Leipzig, hav ing purchased in company with Julian Schmidt, the literary historian, the political and literary journal known as the Grenzboten. They an nounced their editorial policy as liberal in poli tics and also in literature, but opposed to the strongly radical and revolutionary ideas of ((Young Germany?) Freytag was connected with this journal almost during the entire period from 1848-70. All his important writ ings, except 'Die Ahnen> and 'Erinnerungen aus meinem Leben,) were published in this period. In 1870 he was summoned by the Crown Prince, later Emperor Frederick III, to his headquarters in the Franco-Prussian War as correspondent. The 10 years following he devoted to the writing of the series of historical novels, 'Die Millen. The latter part of his life was spent in Wiesbaden and Sieheleben. After 1880 he took little interest in political and literary matters.
As a journalist he wrote many articles of more than passing value, but as a literary man his fame rests chiefly on four works: 'Die Journalisten) (1853), 'Soil and Haben) (1855), aus der Deutschen Vergangenheit> (5 vols., 1859-67) and 'Die Ahnen> (1872-80). 'Die Journalisten) is one of the most ing of German comedies and is keenly enjoyed even to-day when it is well performed. The most successful character of the play is Konrad Bolz, a cheerful journalist, who feels the cords of his time, but whose genial nature makes the best of all situations. The acting
qualities of the play are largely due to a brilliant dialogue. 'Soil und Haben' was an epochmak ing novel in which Freytag ennobled the routine and toil of daily life. He conceived it to be the duty of writers in those trying times of polit ical turmoil and social unrest to hold up be fore the people an example of their ability for efficient work. In its genial humor this novel shows the influence of Dickens. Its suc cess was phenomenal, 64 editions having ap peared up to 1906. The present-day reader, however, usually finds it somewhat tedious. 'Bilder airs der Deutschen Vergangenheit> is a series of descriptions of German life from its beginnings to recent times. In its clear style this work is a masterpiece of German prose. Freytag sketches the life in castle and cloister, the exploits of the knights of the Middle Ages, the intellectual ferment of the Reformation, the degradation of the Thirty Years' War, the rise of the Prussian state, and finally the wars of liberation of 1813-15. 'Die Ahnen' is a cycle of eight novels in which Freytag made a poetical transcription of his 'Bilder aus der Deutschen Vergangenheit.' The artistic value of these writings varies, but upon the whole the series is attractive and has the distinction with the of setting forth the unity and continuity of German life. Another of his novels, 'Die Verlorene Hand schrift' (1864), is not quite on the same plane as 'Soil und Haben.) The characters are somewhat artificial; they have not developed from life itself, but show the hand of the con scious imitator of real art. The humor, too, is at times forced and the language is not always spontaneous and free from mannerisms. Frey tag's theoretical work, 'Die Technik des Dramas' (1863), indifferently translated by McEwan, Chicago 1894, is based upon the classical German drama. It is instructive and stimulating and states the fundamental dramatic laws clearly, but it should not be misused by trying to derive from it absolute rules that must invariably be followed. Other works of lesser importance are the dramas 'Die Braut fahrt, oder Kunz von der Rosen' (1841) ; 'Die Valentine' (1847) ; 'Graf Waldemar' (1850) ; and 'Die Fabler' (1859). 'Karl Mathy,' a biography, was published in 1870 and serinnerungen) in 1886.
At his death in 1895 Freytag was enjoying great popularity and his popularity has not waned up to the present day. He was not a genius, unless we define genius as ((aninfinite capacity for taking pains.° He himself early recognized that he lacked the divine spark, but undaunted he made the most of the talent he possessed. ((German poetry, German scholar ship and German patriotism,'" as Erich Schmidt says, °were in Freytag fused into an indissolu ble unity.° (See DEBIT AND CREDIT; JOURNALISTS, THE). Consult Collected Works, 22 vols., 1886— 88; Lindau, Hans, 'Gustav Freytag) (Leipzig 1907) ; also Seiler, Friedrich, 'Gustav Freytag' (Leipzig 1898), and Schmidt, Erich, 'Dem An denken Gustav Freytags' (in 'Deutsche Rund schau' (Vol. 83. pp. 453-464) ; republished in 2d series, Berlin 1901).