Rahel Levin Varnhagen

Rahel Levin Varnhagen (17711833) occupied a unique place in German intellectual history. She is known for the salon she initiated in Berlin, which became a center for intellectuals and artists of various social classesespecially for writers of the Romantic and the Young Germany schools. Based on research at the rediscovered Varnhagen Collection, Heidi Thomann Tewarson provides a new and comprehensive portrait of this remarkable woman. No longer primarily the sparkling salonnire, Varhagen is recognized as the author of a unique epistolary oeuvre. Tewarson gives a rich account of Varnhagens intellectual community, made up of such figures as Friedrich and Dorothea Schlegel, Clemens Brentano, Goethe, Hegel, Leopold Ranke, Heine, and the assimilated Jewish community in Berlin. Tewarson also discusses Varnhagens writings on women, philosophy, literature, Jews, and a host of other topics. In particular, she highlights Varnhagens insights intoand vehement protests against discrimination against women and Jews. These writings led to Varnhagens reputation as a leading intellectual of her eraa champion of literary figures and movements, of human rights, and of Enlightenment values.