#august von platen

[stoertebeker]

[die-weltbuehne]

“Ich bin unzufrieden mit mir selbst. Kann ich wohl hoffen, ein großer Staatsmann zu werden? Eben so wenig ein großer Dichter. Wollte Gott, ich könnte meine Thätigkeit nur nach einer Seite richten. Wollte Gott ich hätte nie einen Vers gemacht, und dürfte mich ganz in die Arme der Wissenschaft werfen.”

– August von Platen, Tagebucheintrag vom 26. Mai 1818

[valentina-lauricella]

Credo non dovrebbe esserci nessun imbarazzo o pudore, al giorno d'oggi, nel dichiarare o supporre l'omosessualità o la bisessualità di personaggi illustri.

Dopo una prima impressione assolutamente negativa sull'aspetto fisico di Leopardi, von Platen, avendolo conosciuto meglio, ne diede un altro parere, che è quello sopra riportato. Al von Platen però, è risaputo, piacevano i bei ragazzi, quindi non credo che Leopardi gli sia mai piaciuto, se non intellettualmente. Pur non essendo io una persona particolarmente istruita, avrei molto amato conversare con Leopardi, e confesso che nell'immaginazione lo faccio spesso.

[ochoislas]

TRISTÁN

Quien con sus ojos contempló lo bello, traspuso los umbrales de la muerte; no prestará en la tierra ministerio, mas la muerte temblando eludirá quien con sus ojos contempló lo bello.

Quebranto eterno le será el amor, pues en la tierra solo un loco espera contentar semejante inclinación. Si tan solo una vez lo hirió su dardo, quebranto eterno le será el amor.

¡Ay, quisiera secarse cual la fuente, sorber ponzoña en cada aura que aspira, sentir en cada flor hedor de muerte! ¡Quien con sus ojos contempló lo bello, ay, quisiera secarse cual la fuente!

*

TRISTAN

Wer die Schönheit angeschaut mit Augen, Ist dem Tode schon anheimgegeben, Wird für keinen Dienst auf Erden taugen, Und doch wird er vor dem Tode beben, Wer die Schönheit angeschaut mit Augen. Ewig währt für ihn der Schmerz der Liebe, Denn ein Thor nur kann auf Erden hoffen, Zu genügen einem solchen Triebe: Wen der Pfeil des Schönen je getroffen, Ewig währt für ihn der Schmerz der Liebe! Ach, er möchte wie ein Quell versiechen, Jedem Hauch der Luft ein Gift entsaugen, Und den Tod aus jeder Blume riechen: Wer die Schönheit angeschaut mit Augen, Ach, er möchte wie ein Quell versiechen!

August von Platen

di-versión©ochoislas

[faustandfurious]

Probably a long shot, but does anyone on the Thomas Mann side of Tumblr know if there’s any suggestion that the name von Aschenbach could have been inspired by the Achenbach brothers (famous German painters in the 19th century)? It seems Gustave comes from either Gustav Mahler or August von Platen-Hallermünde or both, based on the sources I’ve found, but the last name seems too close to Achenbach for it to be mere coincidence. This isn’t something I need to know for any reason, it’s just speculation and curiosity.

[lesewut]

The "West-Eastern Diwan" by Goethe - A bridged beauty between Occident and Orient. Published by Prof. Dr. Heinrich Düntzer, Berlin and Stuttgart, 1878.

It is said, that Goethe used the "oriental mask" to cover his pantheistic ideas, speaking trough the lips of the newly translated poets. Next to the Hafez' poems, which where published and translated by the orientalist Joseph von Hammer, other literal and scientific sources were used as inspirational impact and to refine the tone of the great masters of Oriental poetry, like the academic achievements of Prof. Wurm, Prof. Paulus (Orientalist in Heidelberg), other translations of cultural impact like Rückert's "Östliche Rosen" (~ Eeastern Roses) the Mewlana-Transaltions of 1819 and the collection of August von Platen called "Ghaselen", Goethe corresponded with Boisserés and with one of the Grimm brothers. Wilhelm von Humboldt praised the authencitiy of Goethe's work.

The "East-Western Diwan" is the last great cycle of poetry Goethe has wrote, his interest for Persian poetry arised in the time of the Rheinbund. It can be traced, that this period of time disillusioned him, the diving into another time and continent is essential for escapism, but as Goethe and his field of interest and curiosity is as deep as wide, he must felt like thrown like a freed bird into new heavenly realms. The "Diwan Atmosphere" was created by reading several works and taking in Oriental elements. So we can find "Madschnun and Leila" interwoven in the heart-shaking correspondence between Suleika and Hatem in the "Book Suleika". Expressions of the Dervish Hafis of Shiraz can be found, Tarafas, Labid (Prophet Mohammad called him the poet, who said the most true words; Labid converted to Islam and wrote eologies, but it is said, that he stopped practicing ?), Zoheir, Saadi and Hafez. Saadi was also known as a sheik and was called "Poet-King" (or King-Poet, if you like :P) and if we would compare the structure of the poems, it is more likely, that Goethe imitated Saadi, rather than Hafez.

Goethe is playing wonderfully with expressions, merging wine and tears, praising the dust of the lover as better than safran and comparing the loved one to a drop of water and the lyrical-I as desert sand. Numerology is emphasising the cultural background, drawing a link between the poet and the priest, pairing mystics and religion into ecstatic relief. This wonderful work is a gift, for everyone, who sometimes had the feeling of getting ripped apart by two forces. It feels like the made-up gap between Europa and Asia is nothing but a fiction, like a forgotten song of our cultural cradle. Let us share the pomegranates of our culture, let us nourish from unkown fruits to break our borders, to sharpen our discernment, to truely lift our feet and recognize the extraordinary.

[hiemihymni]

tagged by @transbutchblues!

last book i read : the last one i finished must have been The Discovery of Slowness by Sten Nadolny. i really value the message because i often feel pressured to learn and act more quickly than at my natural pace :/

a book i recommend : ough. um. too many and none at all come to mind, i'll pass on that. just read what speaks to you!

a book i couldn’t put down : Turtle Diary by Russell Hoban! I've never heard anyone talk about it. It takes two adults on a small crazy adventure to free turtles and they therefore break out of the rut of their everyday life for a while (does not cure depression tm but it gave me hope when i was going through it).

a book i’ve read twice : many, especially classics i picked up too early in life and didn't understand at all the first time around. I'll say War and Peace for the fun of it.

a book on my tbr : Thornton Wilder's The Ides of March, i'm hoping to read it while in Greece!

a book i’ve put down : I agree with @transbutchblues, it's mostly nonfiction that i put down. The last one that happened to was Werner Goez's "Gestalten des Hochmittelalters. Personengeschichtliche Essays im allgemeinhistorischen Kontext" (essays on singular people living during the high middle ages) - even though it was written incredibly well i could not bring myself to read more. nonfiction on history is super confusing and irritating for me. i have huge gaps in my knowledge of basic historical facts - i cannot imagine what life was like for the people because every form of documentation is incomplete, and because of that i get frustrated and am unable to remember these dates and facts. i'm keeping the book nonetheless because the hope that someday i will give it a second try is still there

a book on my wishlist : Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane, i actually bought it once but the delivery got cancelled and refunded because it was out of stock :(

a favourite book from childhood : um i remember very little.. there was a series on a mermaid i really adored. (The series is called Pimpinella Meerprinzessin by Usch Luhn)

a book you would give to a friend : I have literally given Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar to a friend. the book radiates calmness.

a book of poetry/lyrics you own : i'm currently reading Heinrich Heine for the first time in my life, and for the first time enjoying german poetry! (prior i've only ever clicked with latin poetry)

a non-fiction book you own : probably the first nonfiction book i ever read was Mathijs Deen's Down Old Roads. It started a fire in me which i cannot explain but i am incredibly grateful for it.

currently reading : slowly picking my way through too many at once: The Persian Boy, two books on medieval german literature, an essay collection on August von Platen, Dyskolos, catull (especially c.63 right now and essays on that), oop

planning on reading next : idrk, i am in a bit of a rut but uni ended yesterday so i'll hopefully can get back into reading more and actually finish books?

tagging anyone who wants to!

[ggoodbyefall]

…ebedi güzelliği temaşa ettiği söylenir. Ne var ki gerçek anlamda mükemmellik ve saf güzellik, her ne kadar görünürde neşe ve coşku verse de, mukadder olarak inkıraz ve ölümle neticelenmektedir. August von Platen “Tristan” başlıklı gazelini sanki Mozart içi yazmıştır. Bu gazelin ilk mısraları şöyledir:

Wer die Schönheit angeschaut mit Ayten,

Istdem Tode schon anheimgegeben

Kim ki güzelliği temaşa etmiştir,

O çoktan ölüme teslim edilmiştir.

Doğu ve Batı, Senail Özkan

[stoertebeker]

They really mentioned August von Platen in that new book about franconian love stories!

[die-weltbuehne]

“Platen – Don Quijote! Eine fahrende Seele, begeistert und getrieben von sublimer Narrheit, von einem unbedankten, unzeitigen, unmöglichen, verbitterten, jeden Augenblick geschändeten und verprügelten, zu Tode gelachten Hochsinn und Kampfesmut, der bis zum letzten Atemzuge schwört, daß Dulzinea von Toboso die schönste Dame unter der Sonne sei, obgleich sie eine Bauernmagd, besser gesagt aber irgendein törichter Student namens Schmidtlein oder German ist: wollen wir ihn nicht so sehen, diesen Dichter in des Wortes hoffnungslos-edelmütigstem Sinn, und dabei nicht aufhören, ihn zu lieben und zu ehren, wie wir den skurrilen Helden des Cervantes lieben und ehren, obgleich sein Meister uns zwingt, über ihn zu lachen?”

– Thomas Mann über August von Platen, in seinem Festvortrag vor der Platen-Gesellschaft am 4.10.1930

[buendischerwaldgang]

Wer die Schönheit angeschaut mit Augen, Ist dem Tode schon anheimgegeben, Wird für keinen Dienst auf Erden taugen, Und doch wird er vor dem Tode beben, Wer die Schönheit angeschaut mit Augen!

Ewig währt für ihn der Schmerz der Liebe, Denn ein Tor nur kann auf Erden hoffen, Zu genügen einem solchen Triebe: Wen der Pfeil des Schönen je getroffen, Ewig währt für ihn der Schmerz der Liebe!

– August von Platen, aus: Tristan

[valentina-lauricella]

[...] Celebre fu il suo rapporto amicale con Antonio Ranieri, sodalizio che venne immortalato a Napoli anche dal poeta tedesco August Von Platen che, nel 1834, dedicò questi versi ai due inseparabili amici (li lasciò su un bigliettino dietro la porta, che non gli venne aperta, appunto perché Ranieri era fuori casa e Leopardi sonnecchiava, n.d.r.):

"A.P. saluta

Giacomo Leopardi

che si alza tanto tardi

e Antonio Sempre - fuori

dottissimi signori."

Sempre dal suo diario, condividiamo con voi questa citazione dalla quale emerge molto della personalità di Giacomo.

[dykehaus]

me arguing with myself in the mirror

[i12bent]

Cai-Ulrich von Platen (b. August 6, 1955) is a Danish painter, sculptor and installation artist. He trained at the Royal Academy and Glyptoteket (sculpture).

Since 2011 he has produced a series of canvases in dialogue with Pieter Breughel the Elder, copying his formats and viewpoints, but updating the everyday subject matter to reflect contemporary concerns.

Here is an example: Udsigt/View, 2011-19 (Shown by Banja Rathnov Galleri og Clausens Kunsthandel)

[catherinesvalois]

Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Electoral Princess of Hanover (1666-1726)

Daughter of a Love Match

Daughter of George William, Duke of Brunswick-Luneberg ruler of Celle and his mistress Eleanore d’Esmier d’Olbreuse (morganatically married because they were of different social ranks). Sophia was legitimized in 1674, her mother was made the Duchess of Wilhelmsburg, and in 1676 her mother and father were married officially.

Marriage to “that pig snout!” Cousin

Sophia became a very eligible woman on the marriage market because she brought with her a large dowry, but instead making a match abroad or with someone appealing she was married to her cousin, George Louis. George Louis was also in the line of English succession through his mother’s lineage.

Troubled Marriage

Sophia and George Louis had a problematic marriage, because they both disliked each other. They would have loud arguments where they both criticized each other. However, they did have two children: George August (later King George II of England and father of George III) and Sophia Dorothea (later mother of Frederick the Great of Prussia).

Estrangement and Extramarital Affairs

When George Louis took up with Melusina von Schulenburg, he was began to actively ignore his wife, Sophia Dorothea. During this period of their marriage Sophia herself took up with someone, the Swedish Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck. He was reportedly very handsome and tall. Sophia and Königsmarck were already acquainted in Celle when they were younger, and they were attracted to each other then. Upon returning to Hanover, Sophia and Königsmarck took up with each other again more seriously. They began to write each other passionate love letters. By putting their affair on paper, it made it easier for Sophia’s father-in-law, Ernest August, the Elector of Hanover, find out about it. Königsmarck was sent back into military service, this time fighting for the Hanoverians against Louis XIV. Königsmarck left his assigned post to return to Hanover; Ernest August responded by exiling him.

Failed Elopement, Murder, and Imprisonment

At this point George Louis was aware of the affair between Sophia and Königsmarck. When the two lovers planned to elope in 1694, George Louis’ current mistress, the Countess Clara Elisabeth von Platen had found out and told George Louis. Whether George Louis sent his men to intercept Königsmarck or not, the Count never made it to his rendezvous with Sophia and he disappeared. Some sources say that after he was murdered in the Leine Palace his body was put under the corridor floorboards and quicklime was used to decompose his body. Other sources say that he was thrown into the Leine river (this is a new one to me, I had never heard this version).  Not only was Sophia Dorothea’s marriage to George Louis dissolved, but she was under house arrest for the rest of her life, which was more than thirty years. When Sophia Dorothea died, George Louis forbid mourning for her in London (he was King of Great Britain at this point) and Hanover, however, his daughter Sophia Dorothea’s court in Berlin mourned for her. George Louis died four weeks later.

[fuckyeahbuddenbrooks]

Platen

In Betrachtungen eines Unpolitischen (Reflections of a nonpolitical man), Thomas Mann writes that he would have liked to put an incipit to Buddenbrooks, some lines from Gedichte by August von Platen: "So ward ich ruhiger und kalt zuletzt, Und gerne möcht ich jetzt Die Welt, wie außer ihr, von ferne schaun: Erlitten hat das bange Herz Begier und Furcht und Graun, Erlitten hat es seinen Teil von Schmerz, Und in das Leben setzt es kein Vertraun; Ihm werde die gewaltige Natur Zum Mittel nur, Aus eigner Kraft sich eine Welt zu baun." "And so in the end I grew calmer and cold, And now I should like to view The world, as if outside it, from afar: My timorous heart has suffered Desire and fear and horror, Suffered its share of pain, And it has no confidence in life; Let it now make mighty nature A mere means of building A world for itself, from its own strength."