Jean Paul (1763-1825) - Works. Historico-critical edition

• Applicant: Dr. Barbara Hunfeld, since 7/2018
• Subject Area: German Literary and Cultural Studies (Modern German Literature)
• Term: from 2007 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 21747777

Jean Paul (1763-1825) is, besides Goethe and Schiller, one of the great classical authors of german literature. Since July 1st, 2007, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft funds the new historico-critical edition of his works. Included are five main texts ("Hesperus", "Siebenkäs", "Titan", "Komet" and "Vorschule der Aesthetik"), complemented by two smaller texts, which are nevertheless very important ("Quintus Fixlein" and "Leben Fibels"), whose editions were funded by other contributors.For a long time there has been no historico-critical edition that met the standards of modern-day literary studies. The hitherto existing edition could not be completed due to its founder Eduard Berend (1883-1973) being persecuted by the Nazis and forced to leave the country as a german jew. His documentation of textual criticism was lost (variants), the genetical context was only marginally considered (preliminary studies, excerpts, etc.). Furthermore, great amounts of preserved manuscripts of the author, which are beyond doubt of great importance to the deduction of genetical connections, were never edited; different prints of Jean Pauls works were not or only partially considered - a grievance, as the authors intention of what a text is, is known to be highly influenced by his notes and studybooks and the constant rewriting of existing prints when a new edition was due.Today, in comparison to Berends times, not only the philological demands are different, but the editorial tools have changed, too. Parts of the authors legacy, that were previously inaccessible, can now be rendered accessible or are already transcribed, electronic data processing supports the editorial work by managing great amounts of data and new ways of presentation are developed. This project accounts simultaneously for old demands and new chances in publishing Jean Pauls works in a pragmatic way. The completeness of a traditional book edition is not intended; instead the project connects a digital presentation of all relevant source documents with a historico-critical book edition of pivotal texts of the author. Book edition and digital component depend on each other. The source material must be analysed, interpreted and indexed to be of worth for the book edition, while only becoming accessible itself for the scientific community and the public through the diligent editing of the aforementioned pivotal prints. The edition follows the foundations laid down by the model edition of Hesperus, funded by the DFG and published in 2009. The "Vorschule der Aesthetik" was published 2014, the "Siebenkäs" will be published 2016. Also already published are "Quintus Fixlein" (2013) and "Leben Fibels" (2015). The printed texts are edited together with their manuscripts and are complemented by a genetic commentary."Jean Paul: Werke" also features a digital component, the jean-paul-portal, where additional material (pictures of manuscripts and texts) will be presented.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Christian Naser
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Helmut Pfotenhauer, until 7/2018