Clementine Helm Beyrich (9 October 1825, Delitzsch – 26 November 1896, Berlin) was a widely read author of books for children and young adults who published her works during the period of the German Empire.[1][2]
Clementine Helm was born near Leipzig, as the daughter of the merchant Karl Helm (1785 - 1839) and his wife Henriette (née Schmidt 1794 - 1831). Since both of her parents died during her childhood, two of her maternal uncles successively took care of her. After having spent a few years at Merseburg, with the paedagogue Christian Weiss, Clementine Helm moved to Berlin, where she lived with the family of the brother of her former guardian, Christian Samuel Weiss, who was a well-known professor of Mineralogy.[3]
Marriage and familyedit
Clementine moved to Berlin to obtain a teaching diploma at the "Königliche Luisenstiftung", a private school offering higher education to girls (see also: Höhere Mädchenschule). Afterwards she taught at a school for girls for several years. In 1848 she married Heinrich Ernst Beyrich, at the time a student of her uncle's who later became a renowned geologist and palaeontologist, as well as a professor at Berlin University. The couple had no children of their own, but adopted Clementine's nieces, Anna (1846 –1906) and Elly (1848–1917), after the death of her sister Wilhelmine Louise in 1851. Letters and diaries confirm that the two girls inspired her foster mother as a writer. In 1896, Clementine Helm died at the age of 71, only one month after her husband had passed away.[4]
Clementine Helm started her career as an author with the publication of songs for children in 1861. She was the author of more than 40 books, many of which were printed in several editions. Besides books she also published many short stories as well as fairy-tales and was the publisher of various anthologies. In 1895, just a year before her death, she started publishing the annual „Junge Mädchen. Ein Almanach“ together with Frida Schanz who continued publishing it until 1904.
Translations of her works are available in English, French, Dutch and various Scandinavian languages. Her most successful book „Backfischchens Leiden und Freuden“, is an example of the German genre Backfischroman, published in 1863.
Legacyedit
Clementine Helm frequently made use of autobiographical episodes in her writing. Besides that her influence as a teacher was also present. Since she had obtained the highest form of education open to girls in the time of the German Empire one of her aims was to pass some of her knowledge on to her readers. As she was interested in science and biology - and had obviously read the works of Charles Darwin - she specifically made a point to mention his work On the Origin of Species in her novel Dornröschen und Schneewittchen. At the time favourable mention of Darwin's thoughts on evolution were very unusual content for a girls’ novel. Besides the reference to Darwin, the fact that religious topics were largely avoided, indicate that Helm was not particularly pious. On the whole Helm's books were ahead of their time by offering protagonists who were not just well-educated but often interested in natural sciences.[4]
Works in public domainedit
In the United States, Clementine Helm Beyrich's works in German and their translations are held in collections such as Princeton Library and New York Public Library. From these collections, a number of works have been digitized and are available to read or download from resources including HathiTrust and the Internet Archive. These works include: Gretchen's Joys and Sorrows (1877),[5]Princess Eve (1878),[6]Backfischchen's Leiden und Freuden or Auf Irrwegen und andere Erzählungen. Für junge Mädchen (1891).[7]
Book cover for Backfischchen's Leiden und Freuden; eine Erzählung für junge Mädchen by Clementine Helm (1863) - digitized book from Princeton library and now in public domain, may be downloaded from New York Public Libraries
Selected worksedit
Kinder-Lieder (1861)
Backfischchens Leiden und Freuden. Eine Erzählung für junge Mädchen, 1863 ()
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Clementine Helm Beyrich 9 October 1825 Delitzsch 26 November 1896 Berlin was a widely read author of books for children and young adults who published her works during the period of the German Empire 1 2 Clementine Helm Contents 1 Life 1 1 Early years 1 2 Marriage and family 1 3 Social circle 2 Career 3 Legacy 4 Works in public domain 5 Selected works 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksLife editEarly years edit Clementine Helm was born near Leipzig as the daughter of the merchant Karl Helm 1785 1839 and his wife Henriette nee Schmidt 1794 1831 Since both of her parents died during her childhood two of her maternal uncles successively took care of her After having spent a few years at Merseburg with the paedagogue Christian Weiss Clementine Helm moved to Berlin where she lived with the family of the brother of her former guardian Christian Samuel Weiss who was a well known professor of Mineralogy 3 Marriage and family edit Clementine moved to Berlin to obtain a teaching diploma at the Konigliche Luisenstiftung a private school offering higher education to girls see also Hohere Madchenschule Afterwards she taught at a school for girls for several years In 1848 she married Heinrich Ernst Beyrich at the time a student of her uncle s who later became a renowned geologist and palaeontologist as well as a professor at Berlin University The couple had no children of their own but adopted Clementine s nieces Anna 1846 1906 and Elly 1848 1917 after the death of her sister Wilhelmine Louise in 1851 Letters and diaries confirm that the two girls inspired her foster mother as a writer In 1896 Clementine Helm died at the age of 71 only one month after her husband had passed away 4 Social circle edit Besides scientists associated with Ernst Beyrich the families circle of friends also included a number of novelists like Theodor Fontane and Otto Roquette as well as the art historian Friedrich Eggers who knew each other from the Rutli literary group Career editClementine Helm started her career as an author with the publication of songs for children in 1861 She was the author of more than 40 books many of which were printed in several editions Besides books she also published many short stories as well as fairy tales and was the publisher of various anthologies In 1895 just a year before her death she started publishing the annual Junge Madchen Ein Almanach together with Frida Schanz who continued publishing it until 1904 Translations of her works are available in English French Dutch and various Scandinavian languages Her most successful book Backfischchens Leiden und Freuden is an example of the German genre Backfischroman published in 1863 Legacy editClementine Helm frequently made use of autobiographical episodes in her writing Besides that her influence as a teacher was also present Since she had obtained the highest form of education open to girls in the time of the German Empire one of her aims was to pass some of her knowledge on to her readers As she was interested in science and biology and had obviously read the works of Charles Darwin she specifically made a point to mention his work On the Origin of Species in her novel Dornroschen und Schneewittchen At the time favourable mention of Darwin s thoughts on evolution were very unusual content for a girls novel Besides the reference to Darwin the fact that religious topics were largely avoided indicate that Helm was not particularly pious On the whole Helm s books were ahead of their time by offering protagonists who were not just well educated but often interested in natural sciences 4 Works in public domain editIn the United States Clementine Helm Beyrich s works in German and their translations are held in collections such as Princeton Library and New York Public Library From these collections a number of works have been digitized and are available to read or download from resources including HathiTrust and the Internet Archive These works include Gretchen s Joys and Sorrows 1877 5 Princess Eve 1878 6 Backfischchen s Leiden und Freuden or Auf Irrwegen und andere Erzahlungen Fur junge Madchen 1891 7 nbsp Book cover for Backfischchen s Leiden und Freuden eine Erzahlung fur junge Madchen by Clementine Helm 1863 digitized book from Princeton library and now in public domain may be downloaded from New York Public LibrariesSelected works editKinder Lieder 1861 Backfischchens Leiden und Freuden Eine Erzahlung fur junge Madchen 1863 Digitalisat der 15 Auflage 1879 Die Brieftaube 1871 Prinzesschen Eva 1875 8 Der Weg zum Gluck 1881 Die Glucksbume von Capri 2 Auflage 1887 Drei Erzahlungen fur junge Madchen 3 Auflage 1889 Unsere Selekta 3 Auflage 1889 Frau Theodore 3 Auflage 1889 Auf Irrwegen und andere Erzahlungen Fur junge Madchen 1891 Die Geschwister Leonhard 1891 Die Stiefschwestern 2 Auflage 1891 Friedas Madchenjahre und andere Erzahlungen 1892 Dornroschen und Schneewittchen 3 Auflage 1893 Das Heimchen 1894 Das Kranzchen 7 Auflage 1895 Das vierblattrige Kleeblatt 4 Auflage 1895 9 Doris und Dora 4 Auflage 1895 Die kleine Herrin 1895 Elfriede 3 Auflage 1895 Hans und Hanna 1895 Junge Madchen Ein Almanach begrundet von Clementine Helm und Frida Schanz 1895 Elfchen Goldhaar 4 Auflage 1897 Marchenbuch 3 Auflage 1897 References edit Lier Hermann Arthur Beyrich Clementine Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Retrieved 15 March 2013 Helm Clementine DNB Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Retrieved 15 March 2013 Kurzbiografien der Autorinnen atypischer Madchenliteratur PDF Retrieved 2021 03 02 a b Three German Women Associated with Geoscience by Barbara Mohr www researchgate net Retrieved 2021 03 02 Helm Clementine Mar 10 1877 Gretchen s joys and sorrows Boston hdl 2027 nyp 33433082300223 Retrieved Mar 10 2021 Princess Eve Lee amp Shepard Mar 10 1878 Retrieved Mar 10 2021 via Internet Archive Helm Clementine Mar 10 1891 Backfischchen s leiden und freuden eine erzahlung fur junge madchen Leipzig hdl 2027 njp 32101068779394 Retrieved Mar 10 2021 Prinzesschen Eva Clementine Helm DNB Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek 1995 Retrieved 15 March 2013 Das vierblattrige Kleeblatt DNB Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek 1993 Retrieved 15 March 2013 Sources editHermann Arthur Lier 1902 Beyrich Clementine Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie in German vol 46 Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot pp 535 536 Sophie Pataky Lexikon deutscher Frauen der Feder Bd 1 C Pataky Berlin 1898 S 331 332 Gisela Wilkending Hrsg Madchenliteratur der Kaiserzeit Metzler Stuttgart 2003 S 309 ISBN 3 476 01963 2 External links editWorks by Clementine Helm at Project Gutenberg Works by Clementine Helm at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Works by or about Clementine Helm at Internet Archive Literature by and about Clementine Helm in the German National Library catalogue Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clementine Helm amp oldid 1176673066, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
