OTTENHEIMER, HENRIETTE:
German poetess; born at Stuttgart Sept. 10, 1807; died there 1883. A faithful Jewess, she was filled with the desire, even at an early age, to combat anti-Jewish prejudice; and she numbered among her friends and correspondents many famous personages, including Uhland, Rückert, Michael Beer (the author of "Struensee"), Gabriel Riesser, Menzel, and others. The last years of her life she spent, almost completely paralyzed, with an aged sister near Ratisbon.
Henriette Ottenheimer wrote much, both in prose and in poetry, although she published little. Her most important work is the poem "Der Kettenschmied, ein Märchentraum" (Stuttgart, 1835), dedicated to Uhland. Other works include: "Gedichte" (ib. 1832), a volume of poems; "Bilder und Lieder" (Munich, 1833); "Erzählungen und Gedichte" (Stuttgart, 1836); and "Erzählungen" (Leipsic, 1841). She also contributed stories and lyric poems to the "Morgenblatt," Lewald's "Europa," Duller's "Phœnix" and "Deutsches Stammbuch," Spindler's "Damenzeitung," and other periodicals.
- Kayserling, Die Jüdischen Frauen, pp. 238 et seq.
