Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Gerhart Hauptmann

Role / Field:

Pioneering German dramatist and novelist, celebrated for literary naturalism.

Born:

1862-11-15

Died:

1946-06-06

Century / Era:

1862s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Gerhart Johann Robert Hauptmann (German: [ˈɡeːɐ̯haʁt ˈhaʊptman] ; 15 November 1862 – 6 June 1946) was a German dramatist and novelist. He is counted among the most important promoters of literary naturalism, though he integrated other styles into his work as well. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1912. Gerhart Hauptmann was born in 1862 in Obersalzbrunn, now known as Szczawno-Zdrój, in Lower Silesia (then a part of the Kingdom of Prussia, now a part of Poland).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His parents were Robert and Marie Hauptmann, who ran a hotel in the area. As a youth, Hauptmann had a reputation of being loose with the truth. His elder brother was Carl Hauptmann. Beginning in 1868, he attended the village school and then, in 1874, the Realschule in Breslau for which he had only barely passed the qualifying exam. Hauptmann had difficulties adjusting himself to his new surroundings in the city.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He lived, along with his brother Carl, in a somewhat run-down student boarding house before finding lodging with a pastor. He ran into problems with the Prussian-influenced school. Above all were the strictness of the teachers and the better treatment of his noble classmates...

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• 1862 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1862
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• June 6 (06-06) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 6

Frequently Asked Questions about Gerhart Hauptmann