Johann Friedrich Gerhard Roeber (19 June 1819 – 12 October 1901) was a German writer and historian who participated in literary circles in Elberfeld and Wuppertal, in Germany.
Life Johann Friedrich Gerhard Roeber was born on 19 June 1819 in Elberfeld, Germany—the son of a woodturner, he attended the Elberfeld secondary school.: "Roeber besuchte die Elberfelder Realschule, die zwar mit einem sogenannten Abitur abschloß, das aber keineswegs zu einem Universitätsstudium berechtigte." ["Roeber attended the secondary school in Elberfeld, which, although he graduated with a so-called Abitur, did not entitle him to study at university."] In 1834, he began an apprenticeship at the (a credit bank). There he became a clerk, received power of attorney, and in 1872 became a partner. He left the company in 1879 and moved to Düsseldorf in 1894.
In the early 1840s, he participated in an Elberfeld literary circle, which included, among others, Adolf Schults, , and Friedrich Engels.: "Anfang März 1841 nahm das Kränzchen nach einigen Rückschlä- gen festere Gestalt an, und de Haas konnte sogar eine Einteilung der Mitglieder nach Literaturgattungen vornehmen. Dem Zirkel insgesamt gehörten außer de Haas, Schults, Roeber, Keller und Engels noch an: Friedrich Plümacher, Gustav Feldmann, Rudolf Nielo, Julius Bloem, Richard Seel, ferner Brune, Trespe, Bredow und Gantzer." ["At the beginning of March 1841, after a few setbacks, the circle took on a firmer shape and de Haas was even able to categorise the members according to literary genre. In addition to de Haas, Schults, Roeber, Keller and Engels, the circle as a whole also included Friedrich Plümacher, Gustav Feldmann, Rudolf Nielo, Julius Bloem, Richard Seel, as well as Brune, Trespe, Bredow and Gantzer."] He later distanced himself from Engels, in 1886.: "Distanzierte sich 1886 deutlich von Engels, ohne ihre ge- meinsame Zusammenarbeit im »Kränzchen« zu erwähnen." ["He distanced himself significantly from Engels in 1886, without mentioning their joint collaboration in the 'Kränzchen'."] In 1847, he married Maria Wilhelmine Elise (née Kretzmann). At this time, he became known as a playwright, novelist, and historian.
Roeber served as the Procurator for Elberfeld at some point.
In the early 1850s, Roeber was a member of the Wuppertal poets' circle (). When this dissolved, a Sunday circle () was formed, meeting at Roeber's house and consisting of poetry recitations, music and discussions—the formation of which was described by Carl Siebel in a letter to Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter in June 1853:
Between 1860 and 1864, he distinguished himself with publications in the literary journal Morgenblatt für gebildete Leser. A year and a half before his death, Roeber suffered a stroke. In a moment of mental confusion, he burned numerous letters from Schults and de Haas to him.
He died on 12 October 1901 in Düsseldorf. Five years after his death, a monument was erected to him on Carnapsplatz in the Elberfeld Nordstadt (later destroyed in World War II). Another monument was erected in Düsseldorf by Karl Janssen.
The painters and Fritz Roeber were his sons. Selected works
References
Bibliography
External links
Works by and about Friedrich Roeber in the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (German Digital Library)
Estate of Friedrich Roeber at the (also, an overview of his literary works)