Charlotte Buff (1753 – 1828)

Charlotte Buff became a historical figure as the model for Lotte in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s novel, Die Leiden des jungen Werther (The Sorows of Young Werther) published in 1774. She appeared in lterature again as Lotte in Thomas Mann's novel, Lotte in Weimar.

Charlotte Buff was born on January 11, 1753 in Wetzlar, Germany and died on January 16, 1828 in Hanover, Germany. Her portrayal in Goethe’s novel stems from Goethe’s intense infatuation with her during the summer of 1772. The romance was doomed from the beginning, in that Charlotte was already engaged to a young man by the name of Johann Christian Kestner at the time Goethe met her. Goethe’s frustration was given artistic form in the novel which was published in 1774. The novel became a best seller throughout Europe and an enduring classic in German literature.

Charlotte Buff would marry Johann Kestner in 1773 and move to Hanover. The couple would have 12 children. Charlotte would have some contact with Goethe in later years by letter and would meet him again in Weimar in 1816. The brief encounter in Weimar was portrayed in Thomas Mann’s novel of 1939, Lotte in Weimar.

Charlotte Buff wurde am 1. November 1753 in Wetzlar geboren und starb am 16. Januar 1828 in Hannover. Nach dem frühen Tod ihrer Mutter kümmerte sie sich um den Haushalt und die neun Geschwister. 1772 lernte sie Goethe in Wetzlar kennen. Sein Briefroman "Die Leiden des jungen Werters" basiert weitgehend auf der problematischen Beziehung zwischen Charlotte, ihrem Verlobten und dem unglücklich verliebten Goethe. Dieser reiste schließlich im Herbst 1772 aus Wetzlar ab, blieb jedoch mit der Familie in Kontakt. 1816 fand ein Wiedersehen zwischen Charlotte und Goethe in Weimar statt. Thomas Mann thematisierte dieses Treffen in seinem Roman "Lotte in Weimar".