Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

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Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (Dictionary of World Biography: The 17th and 18th Centuries)

Early Life

Born the son of a Protestant minister, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing enrolled as a student of theology at the University of Leipzig in 1746, but he was soon attracted by literature and the theater. He wrote his first play, Der junge Gelehrte (the young scholar), a comedy which was performed with great success by the local company in 1748. Other comedies were to follow, and soon it became apparent that Lessing had embarked on a literary rather than a theological career. Lessing’s early comedies were comparatively trivial, following the model advocated by Johann...

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• Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (Critical Survey of Drama)
• Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (Cyclopedia of World Authors)
• Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (Dictionary of World Biography: The 17th and 18th Centuries)

See Also:

• Emilia Galotti (Masterplots Classics)
• Emilia Galotti (Character Profiles)
• Minna von Barnhelm (Masterplots Classics)
• Minna von Barnhelm (Character Profiles)
• Nathan the Wise (Masterplots Classics)
• Nathan the Wise (Character Profiles)
• Nathan the Wise (Literary Places)
• German Drama Since the 1600’s (Topical Overview--Drama)