Emergence of vernacular literature First in order of date are the
Minnesingers, the number of whom in the districts that ultimately formed part of the medieval Swiss Confederation are said to have exceeded thirty.
Zürich then (as now) was the chief literary centre of the Confederation. The two Manesses (father and son) collected a number of their songs in a manuscript that has happily come down to us and is preserved in Paris. The most prominent was Master John Hadlaub, who flourished in the second half of the 13th and the first quarter of the 14th centuries. Next we have a long series of war songs, celebrating the victories of the Swiss. One of the earliest and most famous of these was composed by Hans Halbsuter of
Lucerne to commemorate the
battle of Sempach (1386), not far from his native town. There are other similar songs for the
victory of Näfels (1388) and those of the
battle of Grandson and
battle of Morat (both 1476) in the
Burgundian War. In the 14th century the
Dominican friar Ulrich Boner of Bern versified a number of old fables. More important are the historical chronicles. In the 14th century we have
Christian Kuchlmaster's continuation of the annals of the famous
monastery of St Gall, in the early 15th century the rhymed chronicle of the war between the Appenzellers and the abbot of St Gall, and rather later in the same century the chronicles of
Conrad Justinger of Bern and
Hans Fründ (died 1469) of Lucerne, besides the fantastical chronicle of Strattligen and a scarcely less fanciful poem on the supposed Scandinavian descent of the men of Schwyz and of
Ober Hasle, both by
Elogius Kiburger (died 1506) of Berne. In the 15th century, too, we have the
White Book of Sarnen and the first
William Tell song, which gave rise to the well-known legend, as well as the rather later play named the
Urnerspiel dealing with the same subject. The Burgundian War witnessed a great outburst of historical ardour in the shape of chronicles written by
Diebold Schilling (died 1486) of Bern, by
Melchior Russ (died 1499),
Diebold Schilling the Younger (d. between 1516 and 1523) and
Petermann Etterlin (died 1509), all three of Lucerne as well as by
Gerold Edlibach (died 1530) of Zürich, and by
Johnanes Lenz (died 1541) of
Brugg. In the vernacular, too, are the earliest descriptions of the Confederation, those by
Albert von Bonstetten of Einsiedeln (1479) and by
Conrad Turst of Zürich (1496), to whom also we owe the first map of the country (1495–1497). The Swiss
humanists wrote in Latin, as did also the Swiss Reformers, at any rate for the most part, though the
Zurich Bible of 1531 is an exception.
Nicholas Manuel (1484–1530), a multisided Bernese, composed satirical poems in German against the pope, while
Valerius Anshelm (died 1540), also of Bern, wrote one of the best Swiss chronicles.
Aegidius Tschudi of
Glarus, despite great literary activity, published but a single German work in his lifetime, the
Uralt warhafflig Alpisch Rhaetia sam pt dem Tract der anderen Alpgebirgen (1538) besides his map of Switzerland (same date).
Sebastian Munster, who was a Swiss by adoption, published (1544) his
Cosmographia in German, the work being translated into Latin in 1550. But the multisided
Conrad Gesner, a born Swiss, wrote all his works in Latin, German translations appearing only at a later date. The first important original product in German was the remarkable and elaborate history and description of Switzerland, issued in 1548 at Zürich by
Johannes Stumpf of that town. But
Josias Simler, who was in a way his
continuator, wrote all his works, theological and geographical, in Latin.
Matthew Merian engraved multiple plates, which were issued in a series of volumes (1642–1688) under the general title of
Topographia, the earliest volume describing Switzerland, while all had a text in German by an Austrian, Martin Zeiller. Characteristic of the age are the autobiography of the
Valais scholar
Thomas Platter (1499–1582) and the diary of his still more distinguished son
Felix (1536–1614), both written in German, though not published till long after. Gradually Swiss historical writers gave up the use of Latin for their native tongue, so Michael Stettler (1580–1642) of Bern, Franz Haffner (1609–1671) of Soleure, and quite a number of Grisons authors (though the earliest in date,
Ulrich Campell of
Süs,
c. 1509–
c. 1582, still clung to Latin), such as
Bartholomäus Anhorn (1566–1640) and his
son of the same name (1616–1670) and
Johannes Guler von Wyneck (1562–1637).
Fortunat Sprecher (1585–1647) preferred to write his
Pallas raetica in Latin, as did
Fortunat von Juvalta (1567–1654?) in the case of his autobiography. The autobiography of
Hans Ardser of Davos (1557-post 1614) and the amusing dialogue between the Niesen and the Stockhorn by
Hans Rudolf Rebmann (1566–1605) are both in German.
Jean-Baptiste Plantin (1625–1697) wrote his description of Switzerland in Latin,
Helvetia nova et antiqua (1656), but
Johann Jacob Wagner's (1641–1695) guide to Switzerland is in German, despite its titles
Inder memorabilium Helvetiae (1684) and
Mercurius Helveticus (1688), though he issued his scientific description of his native land in Latin,
Historia naturalis Helvetiae curiosa (1680).
Eighteenth century In the 18th century the intellectual movement in Switzerland greatly developed, though it was naturally strongly influenced by local characteristics. Basel, Bern and especially Zürich were the chief literary centres. Basel was particularly distinguished for its mathematicians, such as
Leonhard Euler (1707–1783), and three members of the Bernoulli family refugees from
Antwerp, the brothers
Jakob (1654–1705) and
Johann (1667–1748), and the latter's son
Daniel (1700–1782). But its chief literary glory was
Isaac Iselin (1728–1783), one of the founders of the
Helvetic Society (1760) and of the Economical Society (1777), and author of a treatise on the philosophy of history entitled
Geschichte dee Menschheit (1764), and of another on ideal politics,
Philosophische und patriotische Trume eines Menschenfreundes (1755), while a number of his economical tracts appeared (1776–1782) under the general title of
Ephemeriden der Menschheit. At Bern Albrecht von Haller, though especially distinguished as a scientific writer, yet by his poem
Die Alpen (1732) and his travels in his native country did much to excite and stimulate the love of mountain scenery. Another Bernese,
Charles Victor de Bonstetten, is a type of the gallicized Liberal Bernese patrician, while
Beat Ludwig von Muralt (1665–1749) analysed the racial characteristics of other nations for the instruction of his fellow-countrymen, his Lettres sur les anglais et les francais (1725) being his principal work.
Samuel Wyttenbach (1748–1830) devoted himself to making known the beauties of his country to its natives, travelling much and writing much about his travels.
Gottlieb Sigmund Gruner wrote the
Eisgebirge des Schweizerlandes (1760), a work describing the ice-clad mountains of Switzerland, though it is rather a useful compilation than an original contribution to knowledge, but a decided advance on his fellow Bernese,
Johann Georg Altmanns (1697–1758)
Versuch einer historischen und physischen Beschreibung dee helvetischen Eisgebirge (1751). In another department of knowledge a son of
Albrecht von Haller,
Gottlieb Emmantiel von Haller (1735–1786), compiled a most useful bibliography of writings relating to Swiss history, the
Bibliothek dee Schweizergeschichte (6 vols, 1784–1787), that is still indispensable to the historical student. But in the 18th century Zürich was undoubtedly the intellectual and literary capital of German-speaking Switzerland, and gained the title of Athens on the Limmat. One of its earliest and most famous celebrities was
JJ Scheuchzer, who travelled much in Switzerland, and wrote much (his travels are described in Latin) as to its natural curiosities, being himself an
FRS, and closely associated with Newton and the other English scientific men of the day. But in the purely literary domain the names of
JJ Bodmer and of his friend
Johann Jakob Breitinger (1701–1776), are the most prominent. By their united exertions the antiquated traditions of German literature were broken down to a large extent, while great praise was bestowed on English poets,
Shakespeare,
Milton and others. Their views were violently opposed by
Gottsched, the leader of the Saxon school, and the controversy that arose forms part of the history of German literature. In 1721–1723 they published jointly the
Discourse der Mater, a periodical which spread their views, while more elaborate and systematic expositions of their critical doctrine as to poetry are Bodmer's
Kritische Abhandlung von dem Wunderbaren in der Poesie (1740), and Breitinger's
Critische Dichtkunst (also in 1740). Their untiring efforts helped to prepare the way for the later outburst of German literature begun by
Klopstock,
Wieland and
Lessing. Another famous Zürich writer was
Solomon Gesner, the pastoral poet, and yet another was
JK Lavater, now best remembered as a supporter of the view that the face presents a perfect indication of character and that
physiognomy may therefore he treated as a science. Other well-known Zürich names are those of
JH Pestalozzi (1746–1827), the educationalist, of
Johann Caspar Hirzel (1725–1803), another of the founders of the Helvetic Society, and author of
Die Wirthschaft eines philosophischen Bauers (1761), and of
Johann Georg Sulzer (1720–1779), whose chief work is one on the laws of art or aesthetics, entitled
Allgemeine Theorie der schönen Kunste (1771–1774). Outside the three towns named above there were several writers of German-speaking Switzerland who must be mentioned. One of the best known even now is
Johann Georg Zimmermann (1728–1795), whose
Betrachtungen fiber die Einsamkeit (1756-1784/1785) profoundly impressed his contemporaries. He, like the fabulist AE Erhlich, was born at Brugg.
Johannes von Müller of
Schaffhausen, was the first who attempted to write (1780) a detailed history of Switzerland, which, though inspired rather by his love of freedom than by any deep research, was characteristic of his times.
JG Ebel was a Swiss by adoption only, but deserves mention as the author of the first detailed guidebook to the country (1793), which held its ground till the days of
Murray and
Baedeker. A later writer,
Heinrich Zschokke (1771–1848), also a Swiss by adoption only, produced (1822) a history of Switzerland written for the people, which had a great vogue.
Nineteenth century In the later literary history of German-speaking Switzerland three names stand out above all others: Albert Bitzius, known as
Jeremias Gotthelf from the first of his tales of peasant life in the Emmenthal,
Gottfried Keller, perhaps the most genuinely Swiss poet and novelist of the century, and
Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, also a poet and novelist, but of more cosmopolitan leanings and tastes.
Jakob Burckhardt was a famous writer on Italian art, while
Jakob Frey (1824–1875) continued the work of Bitzius by his tales of Swiss peasant life.
Ulrich Hegner (1759–1840) of Winterthur wrote novels full of local colour, as is also the case with
David Hess (painter) (1770–1843) in his description of a cure at Baden in Aargau and various tales.
Johann Martin Usteri (1763–1827) of Zürich was one of the earliest to write poems in his native dialect. Later we have a number of Zürich poets or versifiers, some of whose writings have become well known. Such were
Heinrich Leuthold (1827–1879),
August Corrodi (1826–1885) and
Leonhard Widmer (1808–1868), the author of
Trittst im Morgenrot daher (1842) (which, set to music by the
Cistercian monk
Alberic Zwyssig (1808–1854), is now known as the
Swiss Psalm), of
Es lebt in jeder Schweizerbrust (1842), and
Wo Berge sich erheben (1844). To the Bernese poet,
Johann Rudolf Wyss (1782–1830), whose father,
Johann David Wyss (1743–1818), was the author of the
Swiss Family Robinson, we owe the Swiss national anthem,
Rufst du mein Vaterland? and the song, —while
Johann Georg Krauer (1792–1845), of Lucerne, wrote the Rütlilied, , and Gottfried Keller himself was responsible for
O mein Heimatland.
Gottlieb Jakob Kuhn (1775–1845) wrote a number of poems in the Bernese dialect about the Alps and their inhabitants. Less national in sentiment and more metaphysical are the lyrics of Dranmor, the pen-name of the Bernese
Ferdinand Schmid (1823–1888). Among the chief Swiss writers in the department of belles-lettres, novelists, poets, etc., may be mentioned
Ernst Zahn,
Meinrad Lienert,
Arnold Ott,
Carl Spitteler,
Fritz Marti,
Walther Siegfried,
Adolf Frey,
Hermann Hesse,
Jakob Christoph Heer,
Joseph Victor Widmann, and
Gottfried Strasser.
Isabella Kaiser wrote poems and stories.
Johanna Spyri is famous for her children's stories including
Heidi, a fictional character living in the
Swiss Alps.
Twentieth century The
Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to
Carl Spitteler (1919) and
Hermann Hesse (1946).
Robert Walser was only decades after his death in 1956 recognized as one of the great modern Swiss novelists at the beginning of the twentieth century. Likewise, a recognition of the works of travel writer and novelist
Annemarie Schwarzenbach had to wait almost 50 years after her premature death in 1942.
Friedrich Dürrenmatt was a playwright, author of philosophical crime novels and novellas.
Max Frisch was also a playwright, but was famous for being considered the greatest Swiss novelist since Walser.
Adolf Muschg is an important essayist,
Peter Bichsel and
Urs Widmer write stories. Other important Swiss writers are
Otto F. Walter and his sister
Silja Walter. Others of note are
Melinda Nadj Abonji,
Sibylle Berg,
Hermann Burger,
Erika Burkart,
Jürg Federspiel,
Lukas Hartmann,
Thomas Hürlimann,
Franz Hohler,
Zoë Jenny,
Jürg Laederach,
Hugo Loetscher,
Kurt Marti,
Niklaus Meienberg,
Gerhard Meier,
Milena Moser,
Adolf Muschg,
Paul Nizon,
Erica Pedretti,
Martin Suter,
Peter Weber, and
Markus Werner. Writers after 1990 are
Peter Stamm,
Lukas Bärfuss,
Christian Kracht and
Alex Capus.
Historians Important Swiss historians include: •
Ildefons von Arx (1755–1833), the historian of St Gall, of which he had been a monk, •
J. C. Zellweger (1768–1855), the historian of Appenzell. •
JJ Hottinger (1783–1860), the continuator of J. von Muller's Swiss history, •
Johann Ludwig Wurstemberger (1783–1862) who all four wrote on Bernese history, •
A. von Tillier (1792–1854), •
J. E. Kopp (1793–1866), who rewrote early Swiss history on the basis of authentic documents, •
J. A. Pupikofer (1797–1882),
history of the Thurgau •
A. F. Stettler (1796–1849) Swiss constitutional matters •
Johann Kaspar Bluntschli (1808–1881), Swiss constitutional matters, •
E. von Wattenwyl (1815–1890), and •
P. C. von Planta (1815–1902)
history of the Grisons •
Georg von Wyß (1816–1893) • his stepbrother
F. von Wyss (1818–1907), a great authority on the legal and constitutional history of Switzerland, and •
A. P. von Segesser (1817–1888), the historian and statesman of Lucerne, •
Jacob Burckhardt (1818–1897),
Italian Renaissance •
J. J. Blumer (1819–1875), and •
E. Blusch (1838–1900), the historian of the Protestant churches in German-speaking Switzerland, •
Johannes Dierauer (1842–1920), who wrote the impressive Geschichte der schweizerischen eidgenossenschaft, 2 vo, 1887–91, •
R. Maag (1866–1899), who began the publication of the invaluable Flabsburg terrier of the early 14th century, but had to leave the completion of the work to other competent hands, •
Felix Stähelin (1897–1952),
Switzerland in the Roman era Also:
A. Bahl,
J. L. Brandstetter,
W. Burckhardt,
K. Dandliker,
R. Durrer,
H. Escher,
A. Heusler,
R. Hoppeler,
T. von Liebenau,
W. Merz,
G Meyer von Knonau,
W. F. von Münen,
W. Oechsli,
J. R. Rahn,
L. R. von Salis,
P. Schweizer,
J. Schollenberger,
J. Strickler,
R. Thommen, and
H. Wartmann. ==Swiss-French literature==