Educated in theology at the Tubinger Stift, where his classmates included Hegel and Schelling, Holderlin showed no interest in a career in the clergy and instead, became a tutor to a rich family. In 1793, he published his novel Hyperion, in journals and almanacs, and it won widespread praise. In 1796, he began tutoring for a Frankfurt banker and had an affair with his wife, Susette Gontard. Later dismissed, he moved to Hauptwyl and continued tutoring, but his mental state began to deteriorate. In 1802, he returned home, clinically insane. He recovered for a time, but soon relapsed and spent the remainder of his life, some forty years, as a lodger with the Zimmer family. Many of his poems were published by his friends after he had lost his mind and are considered to be among the greatest in the German language. His lyrical works have also inspired many composers. The first collection of his poetry was published by Uhland and Schwab in 1826. |
