Love, War, and Great Emotions: Historical Novels in Castle Setting

Description

A prince-elector who breaks conventions for love and leads a region to ruin. Jean Paul Friedrich Richter, who guides his readers through a philosophical labyrinth of prefaces. And a woman whose life is torn between war traumas and her parents' silence. Three authors take us on a journey through history – at one of Weinheim's most atmospheric locations: Burg Windeck. Helmut Orpel: "Heidelberg Elegies"
A love tragedy like from Shakespeare's pen unfolds in Heidelberg, when the prince-elector Karl Ludwig, married to Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel, falls madly in love with her court lady, divorces, and marries the lower-ranking Luise von Degenfeld. This breaks the conventions of his time. The modern prince wants to rebuild and modernize the heavily damaged Palatinate from the Thirty Years' War. He gets caught in the game of competing powers, which ultimately leads to the complete destruction of the Palatinate. Art historian Helmut Orpel takes us on a journey through turbulent Europe in the second half of the 17th century. Some historical facts are well known and appear as dates in history books. But what is exciting in this novel are the personal decisions that give shape to the protagonists. The author traces their paths, some historically documented, others fictional, across Europe. So, his readers travel from the Palatinate through Holland, England, and over the Alps to Venice, where Ferdinand von Degenfeld, Luise's brother, serves in the military. With Sophie, the prince-elector's sister, they even go to the French king and to the construction site of the Palace of Versailles, which was not yet completed during Karl Ludwig's lifetime. Helmut Orpel studied art history, philosophy, and Spanish literature at Heidelberg University. In 1995, he earned his doctorate in political art in Spain. During and after his studies, he worked as a freelance editor for various art magazines and published numerous texts on art topics. In 1995, Orpel founded the art magazine ArtProfil and was its editor-in-chief until 2007. Martin Fuchs: "Jean Paul: Preface Virtuoso/The Underrated Power of Introductions"
Why a book consisting only of prefaces and forewords, even forewords to forewords? For Jean Paul Friedrich Richter, prefaces were also a stage for his philosophical antics. Amidst complex sentences and sentence loops, he revealed his thoughts on life, love, and the meaning of existence. Anyone wanting to read Richter's novels had to first navigate his mental labyrinth of prefaces – an intellectual challenge only the brave dared. He even complained that his novels stole space for his prefaces. So, I have fulfilled his wish to create a book only of his prefaces. What he would have thought about it, I don't know, but I believe it would have brought a small smile to his face. Jean Paul Friedrich Richter, born on March 21, 1763, in Wunsiedel. Under the pseudonym Jean Paul, he wrote humorous and philosophical works. He was a contemporary of Goethe and Schiller and was as popular in his time as the two classics. His writing style was characterized by complex sentence structures, wordplay, and a deep engagement with human emotions. Words like Angsthase, Schmutzfink, Waschmaschine, Ehehälfte, and others are inventions of the author. He was a critical observer of his time, questioning societal developments and recording his thoughts in layered prose. Jean Paul died on November 14, 1825, in Bayreuth.
Martin Fuchs, editor and passionate Jean-Paul enthusiast, presents his new book and takes you on a fascinating journey through the work of one of the most idiosyncratic authors of the Goethe era. A common thread? No! Instead, expect a fireworks display of linguistic ideas – an evening for literature lovers and the curious, for humor enthusiasts and seekers of meaning or nonsense. Karin Lassen: "Be brave in life – The traces of war children"
It is May 11, 2014 – Ilse Oehler's 75th birthday. A cozy dinner is planned at a nice restaurant, a harmonious evening together with daughter Birgit and son-in-law Markus. But the evening ends abruptly; more, it marks the sad beginning of a series of fateful misunderstandings, ruthless accusations, serious allegations, and cold silence. And with a tragic ending... Perspective shift: In detailed flashbacks, we delve into Ilse's eventful life. She was born in 1939 as the only daughter of Hedwig and Wilhelm Oehler in Ludwigshafen/Rhine. No time for idyll – war is raging: The first years of the family are marked by recurring air raid alarms, bombings, and fearful nights in the bunker. Ilse's parents, always duty- and tradition-conscious, speechless and powerless against the horrors of war, retreat into icy silence, enveloping their daughter in it. And so we follow Ilse's life path further, as a lively girl, a young mother, a diligent employee, always searching for harmony with her parents, love, recognition, freedom, and a little bit of happiness. But the resistance seems insurmountable – the wall of silence too high, societal constraints too great. The young woman's soul must break! A major historical novel that recounts the effects of chaotic war years, the atmosphere of rubble and economic miracle in the life of a young woman. Events from the Ludwigshafen region and Mannheim also play a role in the background. An attempt to understand the ups and downs of a whole life, to comprehend the unresolved. Karin Lassen belongs to the war grandchild generation. After commercial training in the pharmaceutical industry, she took on various roles in marketing, sales, and project management. She qualified as a systemic coach, managed nationwide projects in HR and training, and built her second career around the topic of 'editing and creative writing.' Karin Lassen, born in 1966, hails from Ludwigshafen am Rhein and lives with her husband and cats in Mannheim city center.

Highlights

• Reading of historical novels at Burg Windeck
• Authors: Helmut Orpel and others
• Topics: Love, war, and personal decisions

General Information

The event offers a literary journey through history focusing on historical novels. At one of Weinheim's most beautiful locations, Burg Windeck, the authors present their works and explore the complex themes of love and war.

Location

Alter Burgweg 2, 69469 Weinheim, Germany

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