Dorothea Viehmann (November 8, 1755 – November 17, 1816) was born in Rengershausen. She was a farmer and storyteller and one of the most important sources of the fairy tale collection of the Brothers Grimm. Most of her fairy tales were published in their second volume.
Dorothea Viehmann was born as Katharina Dorothea Pierson in Rengershausen as the daughter of a tavern owner. Her paternal ancestors were persecuted Huguenots who emigrated to the German city of Kassel (Hesse) after the Edict of Nantes was revoked. Many of her stories have a French variation based on this French origin. As she grew up Viehmann heard many of the stories, legends, and fairy tales from the guests of her father. Viehmann later transmitted many of these stories to the Brothers Grimm.
In 1777 Dorothea Pierson married the tailor Nikolaus Viehmann who soon died in 1787. After the death of her husband, she had to provide for herself and her seven children by selling products from her garden at the local market.
She became acquainted with the Brothers Grimm in 1813 and told them over forty tales and variations. Wilhelm Grimm wrote about her saying that it was out of an amazing chance that he and his brother met this woman. He also recorded that she had probably once been beautiful. The brothers were especially impressed that Dorothea could retell her stories again and again without changing a word. There are, however, several examples her stories which are incomplete or not very well remembered.
Viehmann’s father’s tavern still stands directly by the freeway in Baunatal-Rengershausen.
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Viehmann |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | German writer |
| Date of birth | November 8, 1755 |
| Place of birth | Baunatal |
| Date of death | November 17, 1816 |
| Place of death | |
Famous quotes containing the word dorothea:
“The breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rock-bound coast,”
—Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1783–1835)