Charlotte Von Kirschbaum - 35 Year Relationship With Karl Barth and Nelly Barth

35 Year Relationship With Karl Barth and Nelly Barth

After being invited by Barth to move into the Barth household, which lasted for 35 years. The long standing relationship was not without its difficulties. "Lollo", as Barth called the 13 year younger Charlotte, once wrote to Barth's sister Gertrud Lindt in 1935, where she expressed her concern about the precarious situation:

"The alienation between Karl and Nelly has reached a degree which could hardly increase. This has certainly become accentuated by my existence."

The relationship caused great offence among many of Barth's friends, as well as his own mother. Barth's children suffered from the stress of the relationship. Barth and Charlotte took semester break vacations together. While Nelly supplied the household and the children, Charlotte and Barth shared an academic relationship. She was the secretary and prepared his lectures.

Read more about this topic:  Charlotte Von Kirschbaum

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