HiN - Alexander von Humboldt im Netz. Internationale Zeitschrift für Humboldt-Studien (Apr 2007)
"Die Toten reiten schnelle." Literarische Zitate in Briefen von und an Alexander von Humboldt
Abstract
Article in GermanAbstract in English and GermanAlexander von Humboldt and his correspondents liked to enrich or embellish their letters with quotations from classic works of ancient literature as well as from recent poems, plays, or novels. This paper tries to show that references to literature were very often used in order to express thoughts and feelings more clearly not so much for impressing the recipients of letters with high education. In educated circles a good knowledge of ancient and modern works of literature was a standard requirement, which often allowed the letter writers to use quotations in a playful manner.
