Fritz Reuter was born in Stavenhagen in Mecklenburg on November 7, 1810. His father was a prosperous farmer and served as mayor.
Reuter attended the gymnasium at Parchim and studied law at both the University of Rostock and Jena.
In 1833, while attending the university, Reuter was arrested in Berlin for wearing the colors of his political organization. He was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.
The sentence was commuted to 30 years in prison. However, he was freed in 1840 when Friedrich Wilhelm IV took the throne and granted an amnesty.
Reuter's father had disinherited his son for his liberal political views. Reuter attempted to resume his university work at Heidelberg but "surrendered to drink."
He found success as an agriculturalist for a few years, then later as a tutor at Treptow. He married Luise Kuntze in 1850.
In 1853, Reuter began publishing his rhymes, tales and poetry in Plattdeutsch,
Low German, the first book at his own expense. It was successful and he
published several more.
He gained more fame and financial security with his novels:
The first novel, in 1860 was Woans Ich tau 'ne Fru Kam (About the winning of his wife),
Also in 1860, he published Ut de Franzosentid (about the French occupation of Germany and portrays many scenes from Mecklenburg under Napoleon). In English, trans. by C.L. Lewes (1867) In the Year '13: A tale of Mecklenburg
In 1861 he wrote Ut Mine Festungstid, a narrative about his prison years without any bitterness or self-pity. In 1862-64 Ut Mine Stromtid tells of his days as a tenant farmer and is considered his masterpiece. It is full of detailed portraits of Mecklenburg characters, customs and countryside as well as what life was like in those times. It was translated in 1867 anon. as Seed Time and Harvest and also as An Old Story of my Farming Days trans. in 1873 by M.W. McDowall
Reuter is regarded as a master of German humor, especially the unique culture of the North German Mecklenburgers.
Reuter also published Do:rchla:uchtung (1866) also as (Eng.) His Little Serene Highness, a satire on nobility and De Reis' nah Konstantinopel (1868) a travel guide.
Fritz Reuter settled in Eisanach and died on July 12, 1874. Stavenhagen is now also known as Fritz Reuter Stadt.
Fritz Reuter's works in German and English translations can be found in some libraries or obtained by Interlibrary loan.
My grandfather had an uncle (Emma Tarnow Groth's brother-in-law), a pastor in Brenz, named Reuter. Groth family legend says (that's all I have so far) that the Groth family in Kittendorf was related to Fritz Reuter as a cousin by marriage. Grandpa Groth had all of Reuter's works in Low German, Plattdeutsch, and my dad still has these volumes.
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