Heinrich Hersch

Heinrich Hersch, was born July 11, 1861. After his parents' deaths he came into the care of a maternal uncle who was a physician in Berlin. After graduating from the Königliche-Wilhelms Gymnasium in Berlin, he went on to study medicine at the universities of Berlin and Bonn. In Bonn he laid aside these studies to turn to literature; his first published work was a translation of Erasmus's Encomium moria (Das Lob der Torheit) in 1884, followed by Saint-Reals Geschichte des Dom Carlos, die Stoffquelle zu Schillers Drama in 1885. His special interest, however, lay in the relationship between Friedrich the Great and the philosopher Voltaire; in 1902 the first volume of his study of their correspondence appeared, but the publication of further volumes was hindered by economic difficulties. In order to balance his academic works with other subjects, he also undertook translations of comedies, including those of Molière. In 1866 he married, also producing a small volume of love poetry in the same year; from this marriage came two sons (Hermann and Eugen) and a daughter (Alice). Following his wife's death he returned to his studies and became a dentist while still continuing to write. He married a second time to Bertha Ollendorff; they had one daughter (Rose Agnes). Heinrich Hersch died June 12, 1938 in Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany.