(Read-
ings on Petrarch, Lectures on Dante,' and
similar studies, are authoritative upon their
respective subjects.
ings on Petrarch, Lectures on Dante,' and
similar studies, are authoritative upon their
respective subjects.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v26 to v30 - Tur to Zor and Index
A French publicist and author; born
in Orange, France, July 12, 1810; died near Ge-
neva, Switzerland, May 14, 1871. Elected to
the Chamber in 1846, he attracted attention by
his advocacy of religious liberty, prison reform,
abolition of slavery, and social purity. At the
outbreak of the American Civil War he pub-
lished two books maintaining the justice of
the Federal cause, entitled “The Uprising of a
Great People) (1861) and (America before Eu-
rope) (1862). Other important works were:
(Slavery) (1838); Christianity and Paganism)
(1850); "Liberal Christianity) (1869); ' Innocent
III. , published posthumously.
Gaspé, Philip Aubert de. A Canadian
author; born in Quebec, Oct. 30, 1786; died
there, Jan. 29, 1871. A lawyer, afterwards
sheriff, he became involved in debt for which
he was imprisoned four years; and when
14
## p. 210 (#226) ############################################
2 IO
GASSENDI – GAY
released, secluded himself on his estate of
St. Jean Port-Joli. His (Old-Time Canadians)
(1862), and his (Memoirs) (1866), treat of Cana-
dian traditions and folk-lore, and were writ-
ten in French. The former was perhaps the
most popular book ever published in Canada.
An English translation was made by Mrs.
Pennie.
Gassendi, Pierre (gäs-san-dē). A French
philosopher, scholar, and astronomer; born
near Digne, Provence, Jan. 22, 1592; died
at Paris, Oct. 24, 1655. A child-prodigy at 4,
despite poverty and mean birth he fought his
way to becoming the academic miracle of his
day. A list of his works would be a catalogue
of seventeenth-century science : but above the
rest stand Exercises in Paradox in Opposi-
tion to Aristotle); Objections to the Theories
of Descartes); and (On the Life, Character,
and Doctrine of Epicurus. Either because
he was so miscellaneous, or because his mind
was more acquisitive than profound, he failed
to contribute materially to the sum of human
knowledge; but his writings clearly denote
that he was gifted with a most subtle intel-
lect.
Gaszynski, Konstantin (gä-shin'ske or gäsh-
tsin’ske). A Polish poet and novelist; born
in leziorno, near Warsaw, March 30, 1809; died
at Aix, Provence, Oct. 8, 1866. His early liter-
ary career was interfered with by the distracted
condition of his country, and he took refuge in
France in 1831. Among his productions, (Songs
of a Polish Pilgrim); Recollections of an
Officer); Poems); (Stories and Scenes from
Aristocratic Life); and two or three others,
are prominent. He wrote in both Polish and
French, and the literary studies to which he
devoted himself in Provence are widely quoted
as authorities on its language and people.
Gatty, Margaret. An English juvenile
writer; born (Scott) at Burnham, Essex, 1809;
died in Ecclesfield, Oct. 3, 1873. Her career in
letters was inaugurated with (The Fairy God.
mother and Other Tales) (1851); but (Parables
from Nature (1855-71) is most popular.
Gaudy, Baron Franz von (goud'tē or goud'é).
A German poet and novelist; born in Frank-
fort-on-the-Oder, April 19, 1800; died at Berlin,
Feb. 6. 1840. He began life a soldier, but
abandoned arms for literature at the age of
33. His bent was toward humorous poetry
and epigram ; and (Erato,' his first book of
any importance, is in the Heine vein. His
lyric poetry is of unequal merit, while his songs
are more or less imitations of French popular
authors. Desangaño, (Extracts from the Di-
ary of a Traveling Tailor,' and Venetian
Sketches,' are distinguished among his works
of fiction. He wrote some very good accounts
of his travels in Europe.
Gautier, Judith (go-tyā'). A French novel-
ist, poet, and miscellaneous writer, daughter of
Théophile Gautier and Carlotta Grisi the fa-
mous Italian singer; born in Paris, 1850. She
married Catulle Mendès, but was divorced.
When quite young she learned Chinese from
a mandarin, a guest of her father, and has
ever since evinced great interest in the Ori-
ental languages and literature. Her first work,
under the name Judith Walther, was "The
Book of Jade) (1867), a collection of prose and
verse translated from the Chinese; it was fol-
lowed by (I he Imperial Dragon' (1869), a
Chinese romance, signed (Judith Mendès ));
( The Usurper,' a Japanese romance, crowned
by the French Academy in 1875; Lucienne)
(1877); (The Cruelties of Love) (1878); Iso-
line) (1881); Poems of the Dragon Fly) (1884),
adapted from the Japanese; Potiphar’s Wife)
(1884), a Persian romance; (The Merchant of
Smiles) (1888), a drama adapted from the Chi-
nese ; (The Marriage of Fingal (1888), a lyric
poem.
Gautier, Léon. A French scholar and critic;
born in Havre, Aug. 8, 1832. He held offi-
cial positions connected with the schools and
libraries of his native place till his growing
eminence as a writer brought him to Paris.
His works, which are criticized for a tendency
to overestimate the Middle Ages, count among
their choicest few : (Chivalry); Benedict XI. ,
a Study of the Papacy'; and (Contemporary
Portraits and Present Questions.
Gautier, Théophile. A French poet, critic,
and novelist; born in Tarbes, Hautes Pyrénées,
1811; died near Paris, 1872. His works in-
clude : Poems) (1830 ); (Albertus) (1833 );
(Young France) (1833); (Mademoiselle de
Maupin' (1835). His best work as a critic is
the History of Romanticism' (1854). As a
result of his travels he wrote: (A Journey in
Spain' (1843); (Italy) (1852); Constantinople )
(1854); etc. : also the novels (Miltona) (1847) ;
( Arria Marcella) (1852); etc. Other stories are :
(The Golden Fleece); (Beautiful Jenny); (Ma-
demoiselle Dafne); “Omphale); (The Little Dog
of the Marquise); “The Nest of Nightingales)
( 1833); (The Loving Dead) (1836); (The
Chain of Gold); (A Night of Cleopatra's)
(1845); “Jean and Jeannette) (1846); (The Ti.
ger Skin (1864-65); “Spirite) (1866); etc. For
the stage he wrote : (Posthumus Pierrot) (1845);
(The Jewess of Constantine) (1840); Look
but Do Not Touch) (1847); etc. His works of
pure fantasy are: (Avatar); (A Year of the
Devil) (1839); and themes for ballets. Some
of his poems have been collected under the
title of "The Comedy of Death. On art he
has written : (Modern Art) (1852); (The Arts
in Europe) (1852); etc. *
Gay, Delphine (gā). A French poet and
novelist, daughter of Sophie; born in Aix-la-
Chapelle, Jan. 26, 1804; died at Paris, June 29,
1855. Carefully educated by her celebrated
mother, Sophie Gay, she won fame with her
poetry at the age of fifteen, an academic prize
at eighteen, and a royal pension at twenty.
After her marriage with the famous Émile de
Girardin in 1831, she began to write romances,
and they proved prodigiously popular. Her
(
## p. 211 (#227) ############################################
GAY - GEFFROY
2 II
(
(
(
poems include "Sisters of St. Camille, “The
Vision of Joan of Arc,' and 'The Widow of
Nain. Her best-known works of fiction are
"Lorgnon, « The Marquis de Pontanges,' and
(Balzac's Cane. Her literary work is charac-
terized by a tendency to mysticism and a some-
what lackadaisical style.
Gay, John. An English poet; born near
Barnstable, Devonshire, in August (? ) 1685;
died at London, Dec. 4, 1732. His life was
a series of vicissitudes: starvation and luxury,
neglect and admiration, alternating in kaleido.
scopic abruptness throughout his bohemian
existence. His (Rural Sports gave him his
start in literature; and (Trivia, or the Art of
Walking the Streets of London) has become
a classic. But “The Beggar's Opera' (the first
English comic opera), the “Fables,' and 'The
Shepherd's Week,' must remain his enduring
monuments. He wrote also (The Wife of Bath,
and many other poems which add to his repu-
tation. *
Gay, Sophie. A French novelist; born
(Nichault de Lavalette) in Paris, July 1, 1776;
died there, March 5, 1852. She married M.
Liottier, a financier, in 1793; was divorced, and
married M. Gay, a high government official.
Her literary talent asserted itself early; and
her romantic and sentimental but not silly
novels - especially (Laure d'Estell, Léonie de
Montbreuse,' and (Anatole ) - made her famous
early in the century. Her play (The Marquis
of Pomenars) had quite a run.
Gay, Sydney Howard. An American author;
born in Hingham, Mass. , May 22, 1814; died in
New Brighton, N. Y. , June 25, 1888. He left Har-
vard before graduation on account of ill-health;
and studied law, but abandoned it because he
could not conscientiously take the required
oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the
United States. He became a «Garrisonian
abolitionist,” and in 1844 was editor of the
Anti-Slavery Standard. In 1858 he became edi.
torially connected with the New York Tribune,
of which he was managing editor 1862–66. He
wrote a History of the United States) (4 vols. ,
1876-81), of which W. C. Bryant wrote the
preface; a Life of James Madison (1884), in
the American Statesmen series ; etc.
Gayangos y Arce, Pascual de (gi-äng'gos ē
är'tha). A Spanish scholar and historical writer;
born in Seville, Spain, June 21, 1809. From
1843 to 1872 he held the professorship of Ori-
ental languages at the University of Madrid;
since 1881 he has resided mostly in London.
He has published the Calendar of Letters
Illustrative of the History of England in Con-
nection with that of Spain, during the Reign
of Henry VIII. (7 vols. ). In Spanish he has
issued : (Memoria del Mora Raris) (1845);
(Memorial History of Spain? (19 vols. ); and
contributions to various societies.
Gayarré, Charles Étienne Arthur (gi-ä-rā').
An American lawyer, politician, and historian;
born at New Orleans, La. , Jan. 9, 1805; died
in 1895. He was admitted to the bar in 1829;
was several times a member of the Louisiana
Legislature; deputy State Attorney-General
(1831); Secretary of State of Louisiana (1846-
53). Among his works, which deal largely
with the history of his native State, are: (His-
tory of Louisiana, in French (1830); (Louisi-
ana, its History as French Colony) (1851);
(Philip II. of Spain) (1866); Fernando de
Lemos,' a novel (1872).
Gayler, Charles. An American journalist and
dramatist; born in New York city, April 1, 1820;
died in Brooklyn, May 28, 1892. He wrote over
200 plays, and at one time had five produced
simultaneously at New York theatres. He also
wrote the first drama on the Civil War, en-
titled Bull Run. Among his dramas are:
(The Gold Hunters ); (Taking the Chances);
(Lights and Shadows of New York); (Fritz. ?
Among his novels are: (Out of the Streets)
and (Romance of a Poor Young Man.
Gazzoletti, Antonio (gäts-7-let'te). An Ital-
ian lyric poet; born in Nago, March 20, 1813;
died at Milan, Aug. 21, 1866. He was a law-
yer at Trieste for many years, and became
a government pleader upon the union of Lom-
bardy and Piedmont. Ballads and lyrics were
his poetical forms. What Is the Italian's Coun-
try ? ) is an attempt to write a national hymn.
(Verses); (Memories and Fancies); 'Umberto
Biancamano); and a poem written in honor of
the Dante sexcentenary, have given him a prom-
inent position among modern Italian authors.
Gebhart, Émile (geb-är'). A French critic
and essayist ; born in Nancy, July 19, 1839.
His numerous writings have to do mostly with
the poetry and art of antiquity. History of the
Poetic Sentiment in Relation to Nature during
the Greek and Roman Classical Period); Essay
on Genre Painting in Antiquity); and Prax-
iteles,' are his typical productions.
Geddes, Patrick. A Scotch botanist and
author; born in 1854. He was educated at the
Normal School of Science under Professor
Huxley, and at several foreign universities; and
is now professor of botany at University Col-
lege, Dundee. He is the founder of University
Hall, Edinburgh, which is part of a vast scheme
of university reform and social reconstruction.
Besides numerous monographs and articles in
the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' he has written:
(Chapters in Modern Botany); (The Evolution
of Sex (with J. Arthur Thomson); (The Clas-
sification of Statistics) (1882); John Ruskin,
Economist) (1884); (An Analysis of the Prin-
ciples of Economics) (1885).
Geffroy, Mathieu Auguste (zhef-rwä'). A
French historian; born in Paris, April 21,
1820; died there, Aug. 15, 1895. He was
called to the chair of history at Bordeaux in
1852. He became professor of ancient history
at Paris in 1872; and three years later was ap-
pointed director of the French school at Rome.
Besides several articles in the Revue des
Deux Mondes, he published: (History of the
## p. 212 (#228) ############################################
212
GEIBEL - GENEE
nown.
Scandinavians) (1851); Letters of Charles
XII. (1852); (Gustavus III. and his Court)
(1867); (Rome and the Barbarians) (1875);
Madame de Maintenon (1887).
Geibel, Emanuel (giʻbel). A German poet ;
born in Lübeck, Oct. 18, 1815; died there, April
6, 1884. His early choice was for the clerical
life, but he soon turned to poetry and to the
study of Greek history and letters. He was a
versatile writer, and many productions of ex-
quisite sentiment and pathos, as well as works
in lighter vein,-notably Master Andrea, a
comedy,-- have proceeded from his pen. *
Geijer, Erik Gustaf (yi'er). A Swedish
historian; born in the province of Wermland,
Jan. 12, 1783; died in Stockholm, April 23, 1847.
At 20 he won a prize írom the Swedish Academy
for a eulogy of the great mediæval regent
Sten Sture, and at 27 became professor of
history at the University of Upsala. He sat
in the national Parliament for some years,
and was distinguished for his eloquence. His
(History of the Swedish People, History
of the State of Sweden from 1718 to 1772,
and various contributions to the history of
philosophy, theology, and ästhetics, are epoch-
making in Swedish letters. He had considerable
musical talent, and many of his compositions
have become favorite songs in Sweden.
Geikie, Archibald. A Scotch geologist and
scientific writer; born in Edinburgh, 1835. In
the course of a brilliant career of discovery
and experiment he has written : Elementary
Lessons in Physical Geography) (4th ed. 1884);
(Scenery of Scotland Viewed in Connection
with its Physical Geology) (2d ed. 1887); (Out-
lines of Field Geology) (4th ed. 1891); and
(Text-Book of Geology) (3d ed. 1893).
Geikie, James. A Scotch geologist and
scientific wri brother of Archibald ; born in
Edinburgh, 1839. (The Great Ice Age) (2d ed.
1877), and Prehistoric Europe) (1881), are
works of profound learning and distinguished
by much brilliancy of style.
Geiregat, Pieter (gi-rā-gädt'). A Flemish
novelist and dramatist ; born in Ghent, Feb.
25, 1828. He began as a journalist, but soon
became known as a writer of sketches and
stories, and plays of realistic and spectacular
character. His best fictions are : (The Work-
man's Life) and Folk Voices. He is happy
in delineating the national character, and suc-
cessful also as a historical novelist. Among
the most widely known of his plays are :
(Mother Rosa); (Egmont); and (The Two
Sisters.
Gellert, Christian Fürchtegott (gelʼlert).
A German prose-writer of eminence, and a
popular poet; born in Hainichen, July 4, 1715;
died in Leipzig, Dec. 13, 1769. His place in
German literature is that of a restorer and a
reformer. He began his literary career proper
in 1743 with his famous series of fables, tales,
and proverbial sayings. Abandoning a church
career, he took up school-teaching; and his
lectures on literary topics won him a new re-
During the Seven Years' War he was
visited by princes, Frederick the Great invited
him to his palace, and regiments of soldiers
attended his class recitations. Later in life he
fell into a profound melancholy. "Spiritual
Odes and Songs); Moral Precepts); (The
Loving Sisters); Moral and Didactic Poems);
and above all, the 'Fables,' are the works
most widely read in his own day.
Gelli, Giambattista (jāl'e). An Italian lit-
erary critic and dramatist; born in Florence,
Aug. 12, 1493; died there, July 24, 1563. Origi-
nally a stocking-weaver, he devoted his leisure
to study, became known for his learning, and
held thronged public readings upon Dante. His
writings, partly in dialogue form, are excellent
specimens of the Italian of the sixteenth century.
Readings in the Florentine Academy,!
(Read-
ings on Petrarch, Lectures on Dante,' and
similar studies, are authoritative upon their
respective subjects. His comedies — Sport,
founded upon the Aulularia) of Plautus, and
(Error,' a broad burlesque -- are famous in Ital-
ian literature.
Gellius, Aulus (jel'i-us). A Latin diarist
and prose-writer; born in Rome (? ), about 130
A. D. ; died about 180. Like other rich youths,
he studied in the best schools at Rome and
finished off at Athens; in Rome he held judi-
cial office for some years. The Attic Nights,
which he must thank for his fame, is based on
his diary; and it owes much of its interest to
the fact that every modern writer of historical
novels dealing with the period from Augustus
to Marcus Aurelius is compelled to study its
gossipy pages, owing to the unrivaled verisi-
militude of its pictures. *
Gemmingen, Baron Otto Heinrich von
(gem'ing-en). A German dramatist; born in
Heilbronn, Nov. 5, 1755; died at Heidelberg,
March 15, 1836. He was in the diplomatic
service of Baden for a time, and his first
dramatic productions saw the light at Vienna.
His best-known works are : (The German
Family Man,' a play in metre, founded upon
Diderot's (Father of a Family); and a brilliant
adaptation of Shakespeare's (Richard II. He
wrote a number of minor plays, most of them
metrical.
Genast, Karl Albert Wilhelm (gä-näst). A
German poet and dramatist; born in Leipsic,
July 30, 1822; died at Weimar, Jan. 18, 1887.
He studied law and then entered politics, be-
coming one of the leaders of the popular party
at Weimar. Bernhard of Weimar,' a tragedy,
(Little Thorn-Rose, a volume of poems, and
(Florian Geyer,' a novel, are his most notable
works.
Genée, Rudolf (zhă-nā). A German literary
critic, dramatist, and poet; born in Berlin, Dec.
12, 1824. He abandoned wood engraving for
journalism, and then became an instructor in
literature at Berlin. As a reader and in-
terpreter of Shakespeare he attained distinc-
tion; but his plays - ( The Prodigy) (1854), A
(
## p. 213 (#229) ############################################
GENLIS- GERBERT DE MONTREUIL
213
New Timon,' (In Front of the Cannon,) (The
(female) Hermit,' and adaptations from Sher-
idan, - raised him to the front rank. His
works in criticism, treating of German poetry,
the drama, and kindred themes, are standard.
Marienburg is his successful historical novel.
Genlis, Stéphanie Félicité Ducrest de
Saint-Aubin, Comtesse de (zhon-les'). A
French miscellaneous writer; born at Champ-
céri near Autun, Jan. 25, 1746; died at Paris,
Dec. 31, 1830. Among her writings, which
amount to about 90 volumes, are several little
comedies intended to be acted by her pupils,
the children of the Duke of Chartres; some
stories, among them the romance (Mademoi-
selle de Clermont) (1802); (Unpublished Me.
moirs on the Eighteenth Century and the
French Revolution' (10 vols. , 1825); "Baron
d'Holbach's Dinners. )
Gensichen, Otto Fanz (gen'sich-en). A Ger-
man dramatist; born in Driesen, Feb. 4, 1847.
He has produced a wide variety of pieces, as
(Caius Gracchus) and Danton, tragedies ;
Euphrosyne,' (Phryne,' and (Aspasia,' spec-
tacular plays; and several one-act (curtain-
raisers. ” His most brilliant effects have been
obtained with historical love-stories. He has
produced a volume of miscellaneous poetry
and a historical novel of merit.
Gentil-Bernard, Pierre Joseph Bernard
called (zhon-tēl' or zhon-tē'bār-när'). A French
poet and dramatist; born in Grenoble, Aug.
26, 1708; died at Choisy-le-Roi (? ), Nov. 1, 1775.
He was educated by the Jesuits at Lyons, and
rose to the chief secretaryship on Marshal de
Coigny's staff. He became immensely fashion-
able in all the salons in 1737, when his Castor
and Pollux appeared, with music by Rameau.
Voltaire wrote him a letter of appreciation,
comparing him with Ovid, and bestowing the
title of “Gentil-Bernard » upon him. “The Art
of Love,' another of his works, is, like all his
productions, highly erotic and in utterly false
taste.
Gentz, Friedrich von (gents). A German
publicist and controversial writer; born in Bres-
lau, May 2, 1764; died near Vienna, June 9, 1832.
His early predilections were favorable to the
French Revolution; later he attacked it in
various writings, including translations from
Edmund Burke, Mallet du Pan, and Mounier.
His political career was very brilliant. He
labored assiduously to form the Holy Alliance.
He was a very able and persuasive writer of
political pamphlets and of books against Napo.
leon; the most widely read being (Origin and
Character of the War against the French Revo-
lution, and Fragments of a History of the
Balance of Power in Europe.
Geoffrey of Monmouth (jef'ri). A British
chronicler; born in Monmouth (? ), 1100 (? );
died at Llandaff, 1154. In his (Chronicle or
History of the Britons, we are afforded a
myriorama of Albion's Olympus, with Merlin
and King Arthur, Lancelot and Tristan, and
several ladies, indulging themselves in the char-
acteristically lax and delightful manner of fanci-
ful personages.
George, Amara, pseudonym of Mathilde
Kaufmann. A German poet and story-writer;
born (Binder) in Nuremberg, Dec. 5, 1835. Her
reputation was achieved with "Blooms of the
Night,' a collection of poems. She has written
pleasing tales, among them “Before Daybreak.
George, Henry. An American political econ-
omist; born in Philadelphia, Sept. 2, 1839;
died in New York, Oct. 29, 1897. His Progress
and Poverty) was published in 1879. Mr.
George removed to New York in 1880. The
following year (The Irish Land Question was
given to the world. In 1886 he was candidate
of the United Labor party for mayor of New
York. He subsequently founded the Standard,
a weekly newspaper. Social Problems) ap-
peared in 1884, and Protection or Free Trade)
in 1886. (The Perplexed Philosopher, etc. , fol-
lowed. A posthumous work on political econ-
omy is announced for publication in 1898. He
was candidate for mayor of Greater New York
at the time of his death.
Gerard, Dorothea (ji-rärd'). A Scotch nov-
elist; born in Rochsoles, Lanarkshire, Aug. 9,
1855. ller youth was passed on the Continent.
and she married an Austrian, Major Julius
Longard. She wrote in collaboration with her
sister, Reata) (1880) and (Beggar My Neigh-
bor); and subsequently, alone, Lady Baby)
and (Recha) (1890). The latter was esteemed
her best. Miss Providence appeared in 1897.
Gérard de Nerval (zhā-rär'dė ner-väl'),
pseudonym of Gérard Labrunie. A French
poet, dramatist, and novelist ; born in Paris,
May 21, 1808; committed suicide there, Jan.
25, 1855. His National Elegies,' written at
college and published at 19, reached two edi.
tions. He made a brilliant translation of
(Faust); and had a comedy, 'Tartuffe at Moli-
ère's, brought out at 22. (The Queen of
Sheba, a play written in collaboration with
the elder Dumas; (A Voyage to Greece,' a
book of travel; (Lorelei, a novel; (Misan-
thropy and Remorse,' an imaginative tale ;
(The Alchemist,' a play; and Dream and
Reality,' a romance, are among his most im-
portant later works. But the splendid career
and fortune within his reach were ruined by
his improvidence and recklessness, which grew
on him with age, till he was reduced to the
direst poverty, and ended by hanging himself.
He was one of the most imaginative and
graceful writers of his country. The use of
pseudonyms was habitual with him, "Aloysius,
« Fritz," and "Lord Pilgrim » among them.
Gerbert de Montreuil (zher-bār' de môn.
trėy'). A French poet of the thirteenth cen-
tury. His most noted work is a continuation
of a romance of the Grail, or tale of knight-
hood, written by Chrestien de Troyes and en-
. titled The Cavalier. ) Another production,
of about 1225, is the Romance of the Violet,'
## p. 214 (#230) ############################################
214
GERHARDT - GHERARDI DEL TESTA
known also as (Gérard de Nevers); it is the
model taken by Weber for his 'Euryanthe,' and
by Shakespeare for (Cymbeline.
Gerhardt, Paul (gār'hardt). A German
hymn-writer of great eminence; born in Gräfen-
hainichen, Saxony, March 12, 1607; died at
Lübben, June 7, 1676. He was a stubbornly
separatist Lutheran clergyman, involved in the
political turmoils of the time. The production
of his more than 100 famous hymns - including
particularly “O Head all blood and wounds,
Now all the woodlands rest,” “Oh, how shall
I receive Thee ? )– began about 1600. They
made an epoch in psalmody.
Gerle, Wolfgang Adolf (gār'le). A German
story-writer and dramatist; born in Prague, July
9, 1781; died there by his own hand, June 29,
1846. He was a prolific author of works of light
fiction, employing at times different pseudo-
nyms, such as “G. Erle,” « Konrad Spät,"
( Hilarius Kurzweil," and others. "Corals,
(Schelmufsky's Strange Adventure, and Moon-
light Pictures and Shadows,' are popular. His
plays, some written in collaboration with other
authors, have been staged with success.
Gerok, Karl (gā-rõk'). A German religious
poet; born in Vaihingen, Jan. 30, 1815; died at
Stuttgart, Jan. 14, 1890. Palm Leaves,' his
first ambitious effort, brought out in 1857, estab-
lished his reputation; and in the ensuing years
he put forth many collections of verse, mostly
of a deeply religious and devotional character.
They include : (In Lonely Ways, ( Flowers and
Stars, (Beneath the Evening Star,' and (The
Last Nosegay. His patriotic songs are widely
known.
Gerstäcker, Friedrich (ger'stek-er or gār'.
stek-er). A German writer of travel and fic-
tion; born in Hamburg, May 10, 1816; died in
Brunswick, May 31, 1872. He was the son of
an opera singer who left him orphaned at an
early age. After a seven-years' self-supporting
tour in the United States, begun at 20, he re-
turned to Germany and wrote: (Sight-Seeing
and Hunting Trips through the Cnited States,
(The Regulators of Arkansas, Mississippi
Scenes,' and other most interesting books
which gave him speedy fame. He afterwards
journeyed through Mexico and Venezuela, put-
ting his impressions into works that sold widely.
As a story-writer on his experiences of travel
_(California Sketches, (Under the Equator,'
"In Mexico, etc. - he has been fairly successful.
Gerstenberg, Heinrich Wilhelm von (gār'.
sten-bārg). A German dramatist, critic, and
poet; born in Tondern, Schleswig, Jan. 3, 1737;
died at Altona, Nov. 1, 1823. He studied law
at Jena, and then entered the Danish army.
He subsequently lived in Copenhagen. His
literary career began with (Trifles,' a collection
of verse. (War Songs of the Danish Grena-
diers,' (Song of a Scandinavian Bard,' (The
Bride,' and ,Ariadne in Naxos,' succeeded, -
important and in many respects splendid ef.
forts of poetic genius. His Letters on the
Striking Things in Literature, and his tragedy
of Ugolino' have proved very popular. As a
critic he pays special attention to Shakespeare
and to the old dramatists of England.
Gervinus, Georg Gottfried (ger-fe'nös). A
German historian and critic; born in Darm-
stadt, May 20, 1805; died at Heidelberg, March
18, 1871. His early work, History of the Anglo-
Saxons,' procured him a place at Heidelberg
in 1830, and after some preparatory travel he
settled down to scholarship. History of Ger-
man National Literature, and History of
German Imaginative Poetry and Prose) mark
this period. He next became professor of liter-
ature and history at Göttingen, bringing out his
(Essentials of Historic Science. His political
activity, however, caused him to lose his pro-
fessorship, and he began a rather wandering
career as writer, educator, and agitator until
1847, when he helped found and edited the
Deutsche Zeitung. "History of the Nineteenth
Century, (Händel and Shakespeare,' and many
important contributions to criticism and the
philosophy of history, made during this period,
shed lustre upon his name.
Geszner, Salomon (ges'ner). A Swiss poet
and painter; born in Zürich, April 1, 1730; died
there, March 2, 1788. Painting and etching were
his earliest pursuits, and he distinguished him-
self in both; but his friendship with Wieland
and Kleist turned him towards literature. His
first success as a poet was in the (Song of
the Swiss to his Armed Sweetheart, in 1751.
Daphnis) and a volume of Idylls) spread
his fame widely, and the Death of Abel had
great vogue in its day. He affected a mock-
heroic style that is now distasteful.
Gevaert, François Auguste (gė-văr'). A
French composer and writer on music; born
at Huysse, near Oudenarde, July 30, 1828. He
is the composer of several successful operas,
and was inspector of music at the Academy
of Music, Paris, from 1867 to 1870. Since that
time he has devoted himself to the history of
music. His publications include : History and
Theory of Music in Antiquity) (first part, 1875);
(Treatise on Instrumentation); “The Origin of
the Liturgic Chant in the Latin Church' (1890).
Geyter, Julius de (chā'tėr). A Flemish poet;
born in Lede, May 25, 1830. He was in early
life a school-teacher and later a law-court offi-
cial, but for many years he has been connected
with a bank in Antwerp. His best-known work
is the epic (Emperor Charles. His songs, which
deal with national heroic topics, and his can-
tatas, are exquisitely melodious and metrically
perfect, and are favorites with his people.
Gherardi del Testa, Tommaso (gā-rär'dē
del tes'tä). An Italian comedy-writer ; born in
Terriciuola, near Pisa, 1815; died near Pistoja,
Oct. 13, 1881. After studying at Pisa, he set-
tled as a lawyer in Florence; but in 1848 he
enlisted for the war with Austria and was taken
prisoner. He had already written (The Son of
an Ilegitimate,' a novel; but he now turned his
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GHISLANZONI - GIDDINGS
215
attention entirely to comedy, and rose rapidly
to prominence through the inimitable drollery
of his dialogue and the originality of his situa-
tions. "George's System,' ( Men Must Not be
Trifled With,' and (The Reign of Adelaide,
are conspicuous among his many productions.
Of a less mirthful but more satirical nature are
(The Fashion and the Family,' New Lite,'
(The False Letters, and other efforts of his
maturer years.
Ghislanzoni, Antonio (ges-län-zo'nē). An
Italian dramatist, journalist, and humorist;
born in Lecco, 1824; died there, July 18, 1893.
He first studied medicine, then became an
opera-singer, finally entering political journal-
ism. In the upheavals of 1848 he had various
adventures, including capture on the battle-
field. He lost his voice shortly after the return
of peace, and for a time supported himself by
writing for the comic papers, founding one or
two himself. He tried his hand at many kinds
of literary work, and was most successful as a
writer of librettos, Aida' being probably the
best. He has produced Book of Oddities,
(A Forbidden Book, Fashion in Art,' and
numerous similar volumes, all of a rather
ephemeral nature.
Giacometti, Paolo (jä-ko-met'e). An Ital-
ian dramatist; born in Novi Ligure, March
19, 1816; died at Rome, August 1882. He
achieved distinction in his twentieth year with
a drama, Rosilda,' written during his law-
student days in Genoa. Forced into literary
work by his family's poverty, his dramaturgic
talent attained him a competence. Sickness
and domestic adversity did not interfere with
his prolific genius, and his plays show aston-
ishing versatility. "Queen Elizabeth of Eng.
land, (Torquato Tasso,' and 'Lucrezia David-
son,' tragedies; (Sophocles,' his masterpiece,
also a tragedy; and numerous comedies, in-
cluding 'The Woman with a Second Husband,
are among the popular examples of his work.
Giacomino da Verona (jä-ko-me'nö dä vā.
rõ'nä). An Italian poet of the thirteenth
century. He owes his importance in literature
chiefly to his anticipation of Dante, and such
influence as his work may have had upon the
form and spirit of the Divine Comedy. He
would appear to have been a Franciscan monk,
who composed two crude but striking poems
in the Veronese dialect on the subjects respect-
ively of heaven and hell, « The Celestial Jerusa-
lem' being one and (The Infernal City of
Babylon' the other.
Giacosa, Giuseppe (ja-ko'sa). An Italian
dramatist; born in Colleretto-Parella, Pied-
mont, Oct. 21, 1847. A lawyer for many years,
the success of one or two plays in metrical
form, the fruit of his leisure, led him to turn
playwright solely. His wit and taste have long
made him popular.
in Orange, France, July 12, 1810; died near Ge-
neva, Switzerland, May 14, 1871. Elected to
the Chamber in 1846, he attracted attention by
his advocacy of religious liberty, prison reform,
abolition of slavery, and social purity. At the
outbreak of the American Civil War he pub-
lished two books maintaining the justice of
the Federal cause, entitled “The Uprising of a
Great People) (1861) and (America before Eu-
rope) (1862). Other important works were:
(Slavery) (1838); Christianity and Paganism)
(1850); "Liberal Christianity) (1869); ' Innocent
III. , published posthumously.
Gaspé, Philip Aubert de. A Canadian
author; born in Quebec, Oct. 30, 1786; died
there, Jan. 29, 1871. A lawyer, afterwards
sheriff, he became involved in debt for which
he was imprisoned four years; and when
14
## p. 210 (#226) ############################################
2 IO
GASSENDI – GAY
released, secluded himself on his estate of
St. Jean Port-Joli. His (Old-Time Canadians)
(1862), and his (Memoirs) (1866), treat of Cana-
dian traditions and folk-lore, and were writ-
ten in French. The former was perhaps the
most popular book ever published in Canada.
An English translation was made by Mrs.
Pennie.
Gassendi, Pierre (gäs-san-dē). A French
philosopher, scholar, and astronomer; born
near Digne, Provence, Jan. 22, 1592; died
at Paris, Oct. 24, 1655. A child-prodigy at 4,
despite poverty and mean birth he fought his
way to becoming the academic miracle of his
day. A list of his works would be a catalogue
of seventeenth-century science : but above the
rest stand Exercises in Paradox in Opposi-
tion to Aristotle); Objections to the Theories
of Descartes); and (On the Life, Character,
and Doctrine of Epicurus. Either because
he was so miscellaneous, or because his mind
was more acquisitive than profound, he failed
to contribute materially to the sum of human
knowledge; but his writings clearly denote
that he was gifted with a most subtle intel-
lect.
Gaszynski, Konstantin (gä-shin'ske or gäsh-
tsin’ske). A Polish poet and novelist; born
in leziorno, near Warsaw, March 30, 1809; died
at Aix, Provence, Oct. 8, 1866. His early liter-
ary career was interfered with by the distracted
condition of his country, and he took refuge in
France in 1831. Among his productions, (Songs
of a Polish Pilgrim); Recollections of an
Officer); Poems); (Stories and Scenes from
Aristocratic Life); and two or three others,
are prominent. He wrote in both Polish and
French, and the literary studies to which he
devoted himself in Provence are widely quoted
as authorities on its language and people.
Gatty, Margaret. An English juvenile
writer; born (Scott) at Burnham, Essex, 1809;
died in Ecclesfield, Oct. 3, 1873. Her career in
letters was inaugurated with (The Fairy God.
mother and Other Tales) (1851); but (Parables
from Nature (1855-71) is most popular.
Gaudy, Baron Franz von (goud'tē or goud'é).
A German poet and novelist; born in Frank-
fort-on-the-Oder, April 19, 1800; died at Berlin,
Feb. 6. 1840. He began life a soldier, but
abandoned arms for literature at the age of
33. His bent was toward humorous poetry
and epigram ; and (Erato,' his first book of
any importance, is in the Heine vein. His
lyric poetry is of unequal merit, while his songs
are more or less imitations of French popular
authors. Desangaño, (Extracts from the Di-
ary of a Traveling Tailor,' and Venetian
Sketches,' are distinguished among his works
of fiction. He wrote some very good accounts
of his travels in Europe.
Gautier, Judith (go-tyā'). A French novel-
ist, poet, and miscellaneous writer, daughter of
Théophile Gautier and Carlotta Grisi the fa-
mous Italian singer; born in Paris, 1850. She
married Catulle Mendès, but was divorced.
When quite young she learned Chinese from
a mandarin, a guest of her father, and has
ever since evinced great interest in the Ori-
ental languages and literature. Her first work,
under the name Judith Walther, was "The
Book of Jade) (1867), a collection of prose and
verse translated from the Chinese; it was fol-
lowed by (I he Imperial Dragon' (1869), a
Chinese romance, signed (Judith Mendès ));
( The Usurper,' a Japanese romance, crowned
by the French Academy in 1875; Lucienne)
(1877); (The Cruelties of Love) (1878); Iso-
line) (1881); Poems of the Dragon Fly) (1884),
adapted from the Japanese; Potiphar’s Wife)
(1884), a Persian romance; (The Merchant of
Smiles) (1888), a drama adapted from the Chi-
nese ; (The Marriage of Fingal (1888), a lyric
poem.
Gautier, Léon. A French scholar and critic;
born in Havre, Aug. 8, 1832. He held offi-
cial positions connected with the schools and
libraries of his native place till his growing
eminence as a writer brought him to Paris.
His works, which are criticized for a tendency
to overestimate the Middle Ages, count among
their choicest few : (Chivalry); Benedict XI. ,
a Study of the Papacy'; and (Contemporary
Portraits and Present Questions.
Gautier, Théophile. A French poet, critic,
and novelist; born in Tarbes, Hautes Pyrénées,
1811; died near Paris, 1872. His works in-
clude : Poems) (1830 ); (Albertus) (1833 );
(Young France) (1833); (Mademoiselle de
Maupin' (1835). His best work as a critic is
the History of Romanticism' (1854). As a
result of his travels he wrote: (A Journey in
Spain' (1843); (Italy) (1852); Constantinople )
(1854); etc. : also the novels (Miltona) (1847) ;
( Arria Marcella) (1852); etc. Other stories are :
(The Golden Fleece); (Beautiful Jenny); (Ma-
demoiselle Dafne); “Omphale); (The Little Dog
of the Marquise); “The Nest of Nightingales)
( 1833); (The Loving Dead) (1836); (The
Chain of Gold); (A Night of Cleopatra's)
(1845); “Jean and Jeannette) (1846); (The Ti.
ger Skin (1864-65); “Spirite) (1866); etc. For
the stage he wrote : (Posthumus Pierrot) (1845);
(The Jewess of Constantine) (1840); Look
but Do Not Touch) (1847); etc. His works of
pure fantasy are: (Avatar); (A Year of the
Devil) (1839); and themes for ballets. Some
of his poems have been collected under the
title of "The Comedy of Death. On art he
has written : (Modern Art) (1852); (The Arts
in Europe) (1852); etc. *
Gay, Delphine (gā). A French poet and
novelist, daughter of Sophie; born in Aix-la-
Chapelle, Jan. 26, 1804; died at Paris, June 29,
1855. Carefully educated by her celebrated
mother, Sophie Gay, she won fame with her
poetry at the age of fifteen, an academic prize
at eighteen, and a royal pension at twenty.
After her marriage with the famous Émile de
Girardin in 1831, she began to write romances,
and they proved prodigiously popular. Her
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GAY - GEFFROY
2 II
(
(
(
poems include "Sisters of St. Camille, “The
Vision of Joan of Arc,' and 'The Widow of
Nain. Her best-known works of fiction are
"Lorgnon, « The Marquis de Pontanges,' and
(Balzac's Cane. Her literary work is charac-
terized by a tendency to mysticism and a some-
what lackadaisical style.
Gay, John. An English poet; born near
Barnstable, Devonshire, in August (? ) 1685;
died at London, Dec. 4, 1732. His life was
a series of vicissitudes: starvation and luxury,
neglect and admiration, alternating in kaleido.
scopic abruptness throughout his bohemian
existence. His (Rural Sports gave him his
start in literature; and (Trivia, or the Art of
Walking the Streets of London) has become
a classic. But “The Beggar's Opera' (the first
English comic opera), the “Fables,' and 'The
Shepherd's Week,' must remain his enduring
monuments. He wrote also (The Wife of Bath,
and many other poems which add to his repu-
tation. *
Gay, Sophie. A French novelist; born
(Nichault de Lavalette) in Paris, July 1, 1776;
died there, March 5, 1852. She married M.
Liottier, a financier, in 1793; was divorced, and
married M. Gay, a high government official.
Her literary talent asserted itself early; and
her romantic and sentimental but not silly
novels - especially (Laure d'Estell, Léonie de
Montbreuse,' and (Anatole ) - made her famous
early in the century. Her play (The Marquis
of Pomenars) had quite a run.
Gay, Sydney Howard. An American author;
born in Hingham, Mass. , May 22, 1814; died in
New Brighton, N. Y. , June 25, 1888. He left Har-
vard before graduation on account of ill-health;
and studied law, but abandoned it because he
could not conscientiously take the required
oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the
United States. He became a «Garrisonian
abolitionist,” and in 1844 was editor of the
Anti-Slavery Standard. In 1858 he became edi.
torially connected with the New York Tribune,
of which he was managing editor 1862–66. He
wrote a History of the United States) (4 vols. ,
1876-81), of which W. C. Bryant wrote the
preface; a Life of James Madison (1884), in
the American Statesmen series ; etc.
Gayangos y Arce, Pascual de (gi-äng'gos ē
är'tha). A Spanish scholar and historical writer;
born in Seville, Spain, June 21, 1809. From
1843 to 1872 he held the professorship of Ori-
ental languages at the University of Madrid;
since 1881 he has resided mostly in London.
He has published the Calendar of Letters
Illustrative of the History of England in Con-
nection with that of Spain, during the Reign
of Henry VIII. (7 vols. ). In Spanish he has
issued : (Memoria del Mora Raris) (1845);
(Memorial History of Spain? (19 vols. ); and
contributions to various societies.
Gayarré, Charles Étienne Arthur (gi-ä-rā').
An American lawyer, politician, and historian;
born at New Orleans, La. , Jan. 9, 1805; died
in 1895. He was admitted to the bar in 1829;
was several times a member of the Louisiana
Legislature; deputy State Attorney-General
(1831); Secretary of State of Louisiana (1846-
53). Among his works, which deal largely
with the history of his native State, are: (His-
tory of Louisiana, in French (1830); (Louisi-
ana, its History as French Colony) (1851);
(Philip II. of Spain) (1866); Fernando de
Lemos,' a novel (1872).
Gayler, Charles. An American journalist and
dramatist; born in New York city, April 1, 1820;
died in Brooklyn, May 28, 1892. He wrote over
200 plays, and at one time had five produced
simultaneously at New York theatres. He also
wrote the first drama on the Civil War, en-
titled Bull Run. Among his dramas are:
(The Gold Hunters ); (Taking the Chances);
(Lights and Shadows of New York); (Fritz. ?
Among his novels are: (Out of the Streets)
and (Romance of a Poor Young Man.
Gazzoletti, Antonio (gäts-7-let'te). An Ital-
ian lyric poet; born in Nago, March 20, 1813;
died at Milan, Aug. 21, 1866. He was a law-
yer at Trieste for many years, and became
a government pleader upon the union of Lom-
bardy and Piedmont. Ballads and lyrics were
his poetical forms. What Is the Italian's Coun-
try ? ) is an attempt to write a national hymn.
(Verses); (Memories and Fancies); 'Umberto
Biancamano); and a poem written in honor of
the Dante sexcentenary, have given him a prom-
inent position among modern Italian authors.
Gebhart, Émile (geb-är'). A French critic
and essayist ; born in Nancy, July 19, 1839.
His numerous writings have to do mostly with
the poetry and art of antiquity. History of the
Poetic Sentiment in Relation to Nature during
the Greek and Roman Classical Period); Essay
on Genre Painting in Antiquity); and Prax-
iteles,' are his typical productions.
Geddes, Patrick. A Scotch botanist and
author; born in 1854. He was educated at the
Normal School of Science under Professor
Huxley, and at several foreign universities; and
is now professor of botany at University Col-
lege, Dundee. He is the founder of University
Hall, Edinburgh, which is part of a vast scheme
of university reform and social reconstruction.
Besides numerous monographs and articles in
the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' he has written:
(Chapters in Modern Botany); (The Evolution
of Sex (with J. Arthur Thomson); (The Clas-
sification of Statistics) (1882); John Ruskin,
Economist) (1884); (An Analysis of the Prin-
ciples of Economics) (1885).
Geffroy, Mathieu Auguste (zhef-rwä'). A
French historian; born in Paris, April 21,
1820; died there, Aug. 15, 1895. He was
called to the chair of history at Bordeaux in
1852. He became professor of ancient history
at Paris in 1872; and three years later was ap-
pointed director of the French school at Rome.
Besides several articles in the Revue des
Deux Mondes, he published: (History of the
## p. 212 (#228) ############################################
212
GEIBEL - GENEE
nown.
Scandinavians) (1851); Letters of Charles
XII. (1852); (Gustavus III. and his Court)
(1867); (Rome and the Barbarians) (1875);
Madame de Maintenon (1887).
Geibel, Emanuel (giʻbel). A German poet ;
born in Lübeck, Oct. 18, 1815; died there, April
6, 1884. His early choice was for the clerical
life, but he soon turned to poetry and to the
study of Greek history and letters. He was a
versatile writer, and many productions of ex-
quisite sentiment and pathos, as well as works
in lighter vein,-notably Master Andrea, a
comedy,-- have proceeded from his pen. *
Geijer, Erik Gustaf (yi'er). A Swedish
historian; born in the province of Wermland,
Jan. 12, 1783; died in Stockholm, April 23, 1847.
At 20 he won a prize írom the Swedish Academy
for a eulogy of the great mediæval regent
Sten Sture, and at 27 became professor of
history at the University of Upsala. He sat
in the national Parliament for some years,
and was distinguished for his eloquence. His
(History of the Swedish People, History
of the State of Sweden from 1718 to 1772,
and various contributions to the history of
philosophy, theology, and ästhetics, are epoch-
making in Swedish letters. He had considerable
musical talent, and many of his compositions
have become favorite songs in Sweden.
Geikie, Archibald. A Scotch geologist and
scientific writer; born in Edinburgh, 1835. In
the course of a brilliant career of discovery
and experiment he has written : Elementary
Lessons in Physical Geography) (4th ed. 1884);
(Scenery of Scotland Viewed in Connection
with its Physical Geology) (2d ed. 1887); (Out-
lines of Field Geology) (4th ed. 1891); and
(Text-Book of Geology) (3d ed. 1893).
Geikie, James. A Scotch geologist and
scientific wri brother of Archibald ; born in
Edinburgh, 1839. (The Great Ice Age) (2d ed.
1877), and Prehistoric Europe) (1881), are
works of profound learning and distinguished
by much brilliancy of style.
Geiregat, Pieter (gi-rā-gädt'). A Flemish
novelist and dramatist ; born in Ghent, Feb.
25, 1828. He began as a journalist, but soon
became known as a writer of sketches and
stories, and plays of realistic and spectacular
character. His best fictions are : (The Work-
man's Life) and Folk Voices. He is happy
in delineating the national character, and suc-
cessful also as a historical novelist. Among
the most widely known of his plays are :
(Mother Rosa); (Egmont); and (The Two
Sisters.
Gellert, Christian Fürchtegott (gelʼlert).
A German prose-writer of eminence, and a
popular poet; born in Hainichen, July 4, 1715;
died in Leipzig, Dec. 13, 1769. His place in
German literature is that of a restorer and a
reformer. He began his literary career proper
in 1743 with his famous series of fables, tales,
and proverbial sayings. Abandoning a church
career, he took up school-teaching; and his
lectures on literary topics won him a new re-
During the Seven Years' War he was
visited by princes, Frederick the Great invited
him to his palace, and regiments of soldiers
attended his class recitations. Later in life he
fell into a profound melancholy. "Spiritual
Odes and Songs); Moral Precepts); (The
Loving Sisters); Moral and Didactic Poems);
and above all, the 'Fables,' are the works
most widely read in his own day.
Gelli, Giambattista (jāl'e). An Italian lit-
erary critic and dramatist; born in Florence,
Aug. 12, 1493; died there, July 24, 1563. Origi-
nally a stocking-weaver, he devoted his leisure
to study, became known for his learning, and
held thronged public readings upon Dante. His
writings, partly in dialogue form, are excellent
specimens of the Italian of the sixteenth century.
Readings in the Florentine Academy,!
(Read-
ings on Petrarch, Lectures on Dante,' and
similar studies, are authoritative upon their
respective subjects. His comedies — Sport,
founded upon the Aulularia) of Plautus, and
(Error,' a broad burlesque -- are famous in Ital-
ian literature.
Gellius, Aulus (jel'i-us). A Latin diarist
and prose-writer; born in Rome (? ), about 130
A. D. ; died about 180. Like other rich youths,
he studied in the best schools at Rome and
finished off at Athens; in Rome he held judi-
cial office for some years. The Attic Nights,
which he must thank for his fame, is based on
his diary; and it owes much of its interest to
the fact that every modern writer of historical
novels dealing with the period from Augustus
to Marcus Aurelius is compelled to study its
gossipy pages, owing to the unrivaled verisi-
militude of its pictures. *
Gemmingen, Baron Otto Heinrich von
(gem'ing-en). A German dramatist; born in
Heilbronn, Nov. 5, 1755; died at Heidelberg,
March 15, 1836. He was in the diplomatic
service of Baden for a time, and his first
dramatic productions saw the light at Vienna.
His best-known works are : (The German
Family Man,' a play in metre, founded upon
Diderot's (Father of a Family); and a brilliant
adaptation of Shakespeare's (Richard II. He
wrote a number of minor plays, most of them
metrical.
Genast, Karl Albert Wilhelm (gä-näst). A
German poet and dramatist; born in Leipsic,
July 30, 1822; died at Weimar, Jan. 18, 1887.
He studied law and then entered politics, be-
coming one of the leaders of the popular party
at Weimar. Bernhard of Weimar,' a tragedy,
(Little Thorn-Rose, a volume of poems, and
(Florian Geyer,' a novel, are his most notable
works.
Genée, Rudolf (zhă-nā). A German literary
critic, dramatist, and poet; born in Berlin, Dec.
12, 1824. He abandoned wood engraving for
journalism, and then became an instructor in
literature at Berlin. As a reader and in-
terpreter of Shakespeare he attained distinc-
tion; but his plays - ( The Prodigy) (1854), A
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## p. 213 (#229) ############################################
GENLIS- GERBERT DE MONTREUIL
213
New Timon,' (In Front of the Cannon,) (The
(female) Hermit,' and adaptations from Sher-
idan, - raised him to the front rank. His
works in criticism, treating of German poetry,
the drama, and kindred themes, are standard.
Marienburg is his successful historical novel.
Genlis, Stéphanie Félicité Ducrest de
Saint-Aubin, Comtesse de (zhon-les'). A
French miscellaneous writer; born at Champ-
céri near Autun, Jan. 25, 1746; died at Paris,
Dec. 31, 1830. Among her writings, which
amount to about 90 volumes, are several little
comedies intended to be acted by her pupils,
the children of the Duke of Chartres; some
stories, among them the romance (Mademoi-
selle de Clermont) (1802); (Unpublished Me.
moirs on the Eighteenth Century and the
French Revolution' (10 vols. , 1825); "Baron
d'Holbach's Dinners. )
Gensichen, Otto Fanz (gen'sich-en). A Ger-
man dramatist; born in Driesen, Feb. 4, 1847.
He has produced a wide variety of pieces, as
(Caius Gracchus) and Danton, tragedies ;
Euphrosyne,' (Phryne,' and (Aspasia,' spec-
tacular plays; and several one-act (curtain-
raisers. ” His most brilliant effects have been
obtained with historical love-stories. He has
produced a volume of miscellaneous poetry
and a historical novel of merit.
Gentil-Bernard, Pierre Joseph Bernard
called (zhon-tēl' or zhon-tē'bār-när'). A French
poet and dramatist; born in Grenoble, Aug.
26, 1708; died at Choisy-le-Roi (? ), Nov. 1, 1775.
He was educated by the Jesuits at Lyons, and
rose to the chief secretaryship on Marshal de
Coigny's staff. He became immensely fashion-
able in all the salons in 1737, when his Castor
and Pollux appeared, with music by Rameau.
Voltaire wrote him a letter of appreciation,
comparing him with Ovid, and bestowing the
title of “Gentil-Bernard » upon him. “The Art
of Love,' another of his works, is, like all his
productions, highly erotic and in utterly false
taste.
Gentz, Friedrich von (gents). A German
publicist and controversial writer; born in Bres-
lau, May 2, 1764; died near Vienna, June 9, 1832.
His early predilections were favorable to the
French Revolution; later he attacked it in
various writings, including translations from
Edmund Burke, Mallet du Pan, and Mounier.
His political career was very brilliant. He
labored assiduously to form the Holy Alliance.
He was a very able and persuasive writer of
political pamphlets and of books against Napo.
leon; the most widely read being (Origin and
Character of the War against the French Revo-
lution, and Fragments of a History of the
Balance of Power in Europe.
Geoffrey of Monmouth (jef'ri). A British
chronicler; born in Monmouth (? ), 1100 (? );
died at Llandaff, 1154. In his (Chronicle or
History of the Britons, we are afforded a
myriorama of Albion's Olympus, with Merlin
and King Arthur, Lancelot and Tristan, and
several ladies, indulging themselves in the char-
acteristically lax and delightful manner of fanci-
ful personages.
George, Amara, pseudonym of Mathilde
Kaufmann. A German poet and story-writer;
born (Binder) in Nuremberg, Dec. 5, 1835. Her
reputation was achieved with "Blooms of the
Night,' a collection of poems. She has written
pleasing tales, among them “Before Daybreak.
George, Henry. An American political econ-
omist; born in Philadelphia, Sept. 2, 1839;
died in New York, Oct. 29, 1897. His Progress
and Poverty) was published in 1879. Mr.
George removed to New York in 1880. The
following year (The Irish Land Question was
given to the world. In 1886 he was candidate
of the United Labor party for mayor of New
York. He subsequently founded the Standard,
a weekly newspaper. Social Problems) ap-
peared in 1884, and Protection or Free Trade)
in 1886. (The Perplexed Philosopher, etc. , fol-
lowed. A posthumous work on political econ-
omy is announced for publication in 1898. He
was candidate for mayor of Greater New York
at the time of his death.
Gerard, Dorothea (ji-rärd'). A Scotch nov-
elist; born in Rochsoles, Lanarkshire, Aug. 9,
1855. ller youth was passed on the Continent.
and she married an Austrian, Major Julius
Longard. She wrote in collaboration with her
sister, Reata) (1880) and (Beggar My Neigh-
bor); and subsequently, alone, Lady Baby)
and (Recha) (1890). The latter was esteemed
her best. Miss Providence appeared in 1897.
Gérard de Nerval (zhā-rär'dė ner-väl'),
pseudonym of Gérard Labrunie. A French
poet, dramatist, and novelist ; born in Paris,
May 21, 1808; committed suicide there, Jan.
25, 1855. His National Elegies,' written at
college and published at 19, reached two edi.
tions. He made a brilliant translation of
(Faust); and had a comedy, 'Tartuffe at Moli-
ère's, brought out at 22. (The Queen of
Sheba, a play written in collaboration with
the elder Dumas; (A Voyage to Greece,' a
book of travel; (Lorelei, a novel; (Misan-
thropy and Remorse,' an imaginative tale ;
(The Alchemist,' a play; and Dream and
Reality,' a romance, are among his most im-
portant later works. But the splendid career
and fortune within his reach were ruined by
his improvidence and recklessness, which grew
on him with age, till he was reduced to the
direst poverty, and ended by hanging himself.
He was one of the most imaginative and
graceful writers of his country. The use of
pseudonyms was habitual with him, "Aloysius,
« Fritz," and "Lord Pilgrim » among them.
Gerbert de Montreuil (zher-bār' de môn.
trėy'). A French poet of the thirteenth cen-
tury. His most noted work is a continuation
of a romance of the Grail, or tale of knight-
hood, written by Chrestien de Troyes and en-
. titled The Cavalier. ) Another production,
of about 1225, is the Romance of the Violet,'
## p. 214 (#230) ############################################
214
GERHARDT - GHERARDI DEL TESTA
known also as (Gérard de Nevers); it is the
model taken by Weber for his 'Euryanthe,' and
by Shakespeare for (Cymbeline.
Gerhardt, Paul (gār'hardt). A German
hymn-writer of great eminence; born in Gräfen-
hainichen, Saxony, March 12, 1607; died at
Lübben, June 7, 1676. He was a stubbornly
separatist Lutheran clergyman, involved in the
political turmoils of the time. The production
of his more than 100 famous hymns - including
particularly “O Head all blood and wounds,
Now all the woodlands rest,” “Oh, how shall
I receive Thee ? )– began about 1600. They
made an epoch in psalmody.
Gerle, Wolfgang Adolf (gār'le). A German
story-writer and dramatist; born in Prague, July
9, 1781; died there by his own hand, June 29,
1846. He was a prolific author of works of light
fiction, employing at times different pseudo-
nyms, such as “G. Erle,” « Konrad Spät,"
( Hilarius Kurzweil," and others. "Corals,
(Schelmufsky's Strange Adventure, and Moon-
light Pictures and Shadows,' are popular. His
plays, some written in collaboration with other
authors, have been staged with success.
Gerok, Karl (gā-rõk'). A German religious
poet; born in Vaihingen, Jan. 30, 1815; died at
Stuttgart, Jan. 14, 1890. Palm Leaves,' his
first ambitious effort, brought out in 1857, estab-
lished his reputation; and in the ensuing years
he put forth many collections of verse, mostly
of a deeply religious and devotional character.
They include : (In Lonely Ways, ( Flowers and
Stars, (Beneath the Evening Star,' and (The
Last Nosegay. His patriotic songs are widely
known.
Gerstäcker, Friedrich (ger'stek-er or gār'.
stek-er). A German writer of travel and fic-
tion; born in Hamburg, May 10, 1816; died in
Brunswick, May 31, 1872. He was the son of
an opera singer who left him orphaned at an
early age. After a seven-years' self-supporting
tour in the United States, begun at 20, he re-
turned to Germany and wrote: (Sight-Seeing
and Hunting Trips through the Cnited States,
(The Regulators of Arkansas, Mississippi
Scenes,' and other most interesting books
which gave him speedy fame. He afterwards
journeyed through Mexico and Venezuela, put-
ting his impressions into works that sold widely.
As a story-writer on his experiences of travel
_(California Sketches, (Under the Equator,'
"In Mexico, etc. - he has been fairly successful.
Gerstenberg, Heinrich Wilhelm von (gār'.
sten-bārg). A German dramatist, critic, and
poet; born in Tondern, Schleswig, Jan. 3, 1737;
died at Altona, Nov. 1, 1823. He studied law
at Jena, and then entered the Danish army.
He subsequently lived in Copenhagen. His
literary career began with (Trifles,' a collection
of verse. (War Songs of the Danish Grena-
diers,' (Song of a Scandinavian Bard,' (The
Bride,' and ,Ariadne in Naxos,' succeeded, -
important and in many respects splendid ef.
forts of poetic genius. His Letters on the
Striking Things in Literature, and his tragedy
of Ugolino' have proved very popular. As a
critic he pays special attention to Shakespeare
and to the old dramatists of England.
Gervinus, Georg Gottfried (ger-fe'nös). A
German historian and critic; born in Darm-
stadt, May 20, 1805; died at Heidelberg, March
18, 1871. His early work, History of the Anglo-
Saxons,' procured him a place at Heidelberg
in 1830, and after some preparatory travel he
settled down to scholarship. History of Ger-
man National Literature, and History of
German Imaginative Poetry and Prose) mark
this period. He next became professor of liter-
ature and history at Göttingen, bringing out his
(Essentials of Historic Science. His political
activity, however, caused him to lose his pro-
fessorship, and he began a rather wandering
career as writer, educator, and agitator until
1847, when he helped found and edited the
Deutsche Zeitung. "History of the Nineteenth
Century, (Händel and Shakespeare,' and many
important contributions to criticism and the
philosophy of history, made during this period,
shed lustre upon his name.
Geszner, Salomon (ges'ner). A Swiss poet
and painter; born in Zürich, April 1, 1730; died
there, March 2, 1788. Painting and etching were
his earliest pursuits, and he distinguished him-
self in both; but his friendship with Wieland
and Kleist turned him towards literature. His
first success as a poet was in the (Song of
the Swiss to his Armed Sweetheart, in 1751.
Daphnis) and a volume of Idylls) spread
his fame widely, and the Death of Abel had
great vogue in its day. He affected a mock-
heroic style that is now distasteful.
Gevaert, François Auguste (gė-văr'). A
French composer and writer on music; born
at Huysse, near Oudenarde, July 30, 1828. He
is the composer of several successful operas,
and was inspector of music at the Academy
of Music, Paris, from 1867 to 1870. Since that
time he has devoted himself to the history of
music. His publications include : History and
Theory of Music in Antiquity) (first part, 1875);
(Treatise on Instrumentation); “The Origin of
the Liturgic Chant in the Latin Church' (1890).
Geyter, Julius de (chā'tėr). A Flemish poet;
born in Lede, May 25, 1830. He was in early
life a school-teacher and later a law-court offi-
cial, but for many years he has been connected
with a bank in Antwerp. His best-known work
is the epic (Emperor Charles. His songs, which
deal with national heroic topics, and his can-
tatas, are exquisitely melodious and metrically
perfect, and are favorites with his people.
Gherardi del Testa, Tommaso (gā-rär'dē
del tes'tä). An Italian comedy-writer ; born in
Terriciuola, near Pisa, 1815; died near Pistoja,
Oct. 13, 1881. After studying at Pisa, he set-
tled as a lawyer in Florence; but in 1848 he
enlisted for the war with Austria and was taken
prisoner. He had already written (The Son of
an Ilegitimate,' a novel; but he now turned his
(
(
(
## p. 215 (#231) ############################################
GHISLANZONI - GIDDINGS
215
attention entirely to comedy, and rose rapidly
to prominence through the inimitable drollery
of his dialogue and the originality of his situa-
tions. "George's System,' ( Men Must Not be
Trifled With,' and (The Reign of Adelaide,
are conspicuous among his many productions.
Of a less mirthful but more satirical nature are
(The Fashion and the Family,' New Lite,'
(The False Letters, and other efforts of his
maturer years.
Ghislanzoni, Antonio (ges-län-zo'nē). An
Italian dramatist, journalist, and humorist;
born in Lecco, 1824; died there, July 18, 1893.
He first studied medicine, then became an
opera-singer, finally entering political journal-
ism. In the upheavals of 1848 he had various
adventures, including capture on the battle-
field. He lost his voice shortly after the return
of peace, and for a time supported himself by
writing for the comic papers, founding one or
two himself. He tried his hand at many kinds
of literary work, and was most successful as a
writer of librettos, Aida' being probably the
best. He has produced Book of Oddities,
(A Forbidden Book, Fashion in Art,' and
numerous similar volumes, all of a rather
ephemeral nature.
Giacometti, Paolo (jä-ko-met'e). An Ital-
ian dramatist; born in Novi Ligure, March
19, 1816; died at Rome, August 1882. He
achieved distinction in his twentieth year with
a drama, Rosilda,' written during his law-
student days in Genoa. Forced into literary
work by his family's poverty, his dramaturgic
talent attained him a competence. Sickness
and domestic adversity did not interfere with
his prolific genius, and his plays show aston-
ishing versatility. "Queen Elizabeth of Eng.
land, (Torquato Tasso,' and 'Lucrezia David-
son,' tragedies; (Sophocles,' his masterpiece,
also a tragedy; and numerous comedies, in-
cluding 'The Woman with a Second Husband,
are among the popular examples of his work.
Giacomino da Verona (jä-ko-me'nö dä vā.
rõ'nä). An Italian poet of the thirteenth
century. He owes his importance in literature
chiefly to his anticipation of Dante, and such
influence as his work may have had upon the
form and spirit of the Divine Comedy. He
would appear to have been a Franciscan monk,
who composed two crude but striking poems
in the Veronese dialect on the subjects respect-
ively of heaven and hell, « The Celestial Jerusa-
lem' being one and (The Infernal City of
Babylon' the other.
Giacosa, Giuseppe (ja-ko'sa). An Italian
dramatist; born in Colleretto-Parella, Pied-
mont, Oct. 21, 1847. A lawyer for many years,
the success of one or two plays in metrical
form, the fruit of his leisure, led him to turn
playwright solely. His wit and taste have long
made him popular.
