Luise Gottsched

Luise Adelgunde Gottsched (1713-1762) was a German poet, playwright, essayist, and translator, and is often considered one of the founders of modern German theatrical comedy.

She was born in Danzig (Gdańsk), Poland. During her lifetime, she was considered one of Europe's leading intellects, and certainly one of the most intelligent women of the time. She became acquainted with her husband, the poet and author Johann Christoph Gottsched, when she sent him some of her own works. He apparently was impressed, and a long correspondence eventually led to marriage. Although Luise continued to write and publish, her work was often secondary to the assistance she gave her husband in his life's work.

She wrote several popular comedies, of which "Das Testament" is the best, and translated "The Spectator" (9 volumes, 1739-1743), Alexander Pope's "Rape of the Lock" (1744) and other English and French works. After her death her husband edited her "Sämtliche kleinere Gedichte" with a memoir (1763).