Lenau, Autograph letter signed, to Max von Löwenthal, [probably spring 1835]

LENAU, NIKOLAUS

Autograph letter signed ("Niembsch"), to his friend Max von Löwenthal ("Lieber Freund")

concerning the proofs of a collection of his friend's poems, which he is enclosing [not included here], noting his satisfaction with it, requesting that he return the proofs to him as he has not yet gone through them, also asking for a second copy, and sending his compliments to the countess his wife ("...Hier erhältst du einen Probeabdruck deiner Gedichtsammlung. Mir gefällt er ganz gut...")

Autograph letters by the great Austrian lyric poet Lenau are uncommon.

Lenau's correspondent is his friend, the civil servant and writer Max von Löwenthal (1799-1872), one-time fellow student of Franz Schubert at the Vienna Stadtkonvikt. Lenau fell hopelessly in love with von Löwenthal's wife Sophie in 1834 and remained attached to her for the rest of his life. The collection of poems referred to in the letter is evidently Löwenthal's Dramatisches und Lyrisches, published in 1835.

LITERATURE:

Not in Eduard Castle, Lenau und die Familie Löwenthal (Leipzig, 1906)