Minna von Barnhelm or, The Soldier's Fortune

This celebrated German comedy, set in the aftermath of the Seven Years' War, explores themes of honor, love, and social class. The play follows the romantic entanglements of Major von Tellheim, a disillusioned soldier, and Minna von Barnhelm, his spirited fiancée. Through witty dialogue and sharp social commentary, Lessing critiques the rigid notions of honor and pride, while ultimately celebrating love's ability to transcend societal boundaries. This work is a cornerstone of German Enlightenment drama.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781) was a German writer, philosopher, dramatist, publicist, and art critic, and one of the most outstanding representatives of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the development of German literature. Today his works appear as prototypes of the later developed bourgeois German drama. "Miss Sara Sampson" and "Emilia Galotti" are seen as the first bourgeois tragedies, "Minna von Barnhelm" as the model for many classic German comedies.

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was a German philosopher, dramatist, publicist, and art critic whose work shaped the course of German literature during the Enlightenment. Born on January 22, 1729, in Kamenz, Germany, he was the son of Johann Gottfried Lessing and Justine Salome Feller. From an early age, he displayed a keen interest in learning, which eventually led him to study theology and medicine before fully turning to literature and philosophy. Lessing s writings, both creative and theoretical, pushed forward ideas of religious tolerance, intellectual freedom, and the importance of critical inquiry. Among his most influential works are his plays and essays, which challenged rigid dogmas and encouraged open-minded discourse. His admiration for figures like Aristotle, William Shakespeare, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Voltaire shaped his intellectual development. Lessing s career spanned roles as a playwright, critic, and philosopher, making him a central figure in the German Enlightenment. He had siblings, including Karl Gotthelf Lessing and Dorothea Salome Lessing, with whom he maintained connections throughout his life. Lessing died on February 15, 1781, in Lower Saxony, Germany, leaving behind a legacy of bold thinking and transformative contributions to art, literature, and philosophy.