Suche
Goethe and Lili Schönemann: A storm of emotions in the House of City History
Lecture about Lili Schönemann, Goethe's fiancée, on October 12th in the House of City History Offenbach. Entry: 5 euros.
Goethe and Lili Schönemann: A storm of emotions in the House of City History
On Sunday, October 12th at 3 p.m., it's all about House of City History everything about a remarkable woman: Lili Schönemann. The lecture by Dr. Anette Seemann sheds light on the life of this fascinating personality, who went down in literary history as Goethe's fiancée.
Lili was born on June 23, 1758 in Offenbach am Main. She came from a wealthy family of Frankfurt bankers and was the daughter of a noble Huguenot woman. The family ran a privileged snuff factory and lived in wealthy circumstances. Goethe met her in 1775 when he and other guests attended a house concert hosted by the Schönemann family in Frankfurt am Main. At this meeting the engagement between the two came about, which was anything but easy.
A love with obstacles
The relationship between Goethe and Lili was characterized by both love and inner conflict. It only lasted about 10 months and ended in the spring of 1775, due to the resistance of his parents and Goethe's own feeling of limitations. In his work Poetry and Truth, Goethe describes Lili as the one who actually loved him. Their relationship inspired him, among other things, to write the poem “Lilis Park” and stayed with him throughout his life. So he always carried her portrait with him during his first trip to Italy and kept her memory alive.
After the separation, Lili married the banker Baron Bernhard von Türckheim three years later, who later became mayor of Strasbourg. However, her life path was not uncomplicated. The family had to flee in 1793 during the French Revolution. Lili disguised herself as a farmer's wife to cross the French border with her children. After initially stationary in Erlangen, she later returned to Strasbourg and even had a brief correspondence with Goethe at the beginning of the 19th century.
A legacy full of traces
The many ups and downs of Lili's life are recorded not only in historical records, but also in her letters to her mother, which she wrote in French. These documents show Lili as a brave, humane, understanding and wise woman.
In Offenbach, the Lili Temple and Lili Park are reminders of her legacy. Lili and her husband find their final resting place in the von Türckheims' private chapel in Krautergersheim in Alsace. Anyone who would like to find out more about Lili's eventful life is warmly invited to take part in the lecture. The entrance fee is 5 euros and promises an interesting and educational event.