Erich Auerbach, a specialist in Romance philology, produced his most influential analysis of Western literary history while living in exile during the second World War. His academic output bridged the divide between traditional German philological scholarship and broader comparative literary theory, establishing a framework that examined how various eras represented the complexities of human reality within their narratives.
Academic Foundations and Early Career
Born in Berlin in 1892, Auerbach pursued a rigorous education at the Französisches Gymnasium Berlin, the University of Greifswald, the University of Marburg, and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. After serving as a combatant during the First World War, he secured his doctorate in 1921. He eventually joined the faculty at the University of Marburg in 1929, where he gained academic recognition for his study titled Dante: Poet of the Secular World. During these formative years, he also contributed to the field as a librarian at the Prussian State Library.
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The rise of National Socialism in 1935 forced Auerbach to vacate his teaching position, leading to his exile from Germany. He relocated to Istanbul, Turkey, where he served as chair of the faculty for Western languages and literatures at Istanbul University from 1936 until 1947. Operating outside the traditional European academic sphere, he authored his masterwork, Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature, which was published in 1946. This comprehensive history traced the development of reality and representation from ancient texts to modern novelists.
American Tenure and Final Years
In 1947, Auerbach moved to the United States to resume his academic career. He held positions at Pennsylvania State University and the Institute for Advanced Study before his appointment as a Sterling Professor of Romance philology at Yale University in 1950. He remained at Yale for the duration of his life, influencing a new generation of scholars, including Fredric Jameson. Auerbach died in 1957 in Wallingford, Connecticut, leaving behind a body of work that continues to serve as a foundational reference for the study of literary history.
Fast facts
- Born: 1892, Berlin
- Died: 1957, Wallingford
- Citizenship: Germany
- Education: University of Greifswald, University of Marburg
- Primary Academic Field: Romance philology
- Notable Publication: Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature
- Faculty Role: Sterling Professor
- Professional Exile: Istanbul University
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Mimesis?
It is a comprehensive history of representation in Western literature, covering works from ancient times to the modern era.
Where did Auerbach teach after leaving Germany?
He taught at Istanbul University, Pennsylvania State University, and Yale University.
Achievements
- Notable work: Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature
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