Johann Christoph Gottsched (1700-1766) The Harbinger of German Classicism

Johann Christoph Gottsched was one of the most important figures in eighteenth century German history. He established a standard for German poetics; wrote important plays for the German theatre in its infancy; and was the author of the first standard reference works on German rhetoric and grammar, the latter of which helped to found a literary language. However, his fame, particularly as a dramatist, was eclipsed by the devastating criticism of G.E. Lessing later in the century, and he suffered by comparison to later artists such as Lessing himself, Friedrich Nicolai, and Mendelssohn. This monograph, the first modern study of Gottsched, examines his achievements in a variety of fields.