Friedrich Dedekind
Friedrich Dedekind | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1524 Neustadt am Rübenberge, Germany |
| Died | 1598-02-27 Lüneburg, Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Humanist, theologian, bookseller, playwright |
| Years active | 1543–1598 |
| Known for | Grobianus et Grobiana |
Friedrich Dedekind (1524 – February 27, 1598) was a notable German humanist, theologian, and bookseller.
Originating from Neustadt am Rübenberge, Dedekind pursued theological studies at the universities of Marburg beginning in 1543 and later at Wittenberg, where his abilities caught the attention of Philipp Melanchthon. By 1575, he had assumed the roles of minister and church inspector in Lüneburg.
In addition to his theological work, Dedekind composed plays and took part in resolving religious controversies. He passed away on February 27, 1598, in Lüneburg.
Dedekind's Grobianus
Dedekind is the author of Grobianus et Grobiana: sive, de morum simplicitate, libri tres, first released in Cologne in 1558. The initial version, titled Grobianus, appeared in 1549 and was later supplemented by Grobiana in 1554. This Latin elegiac poem, widely read throughout Continental Europe, features the fictitious Saint Grobian who serves as a moral instructor warning against poor etiquette, excessive indulgence, and intemperance.
The text was introduced to English readers in 1605 under the title The Schoole of Slovenrie: Or, Cato turnd wrong side outward, presenting a satirical manual on uncouth conduct. It notably influenced Thomas Dekker’s The Guls Horne-Booke published in 1609.
In 2008, a watercolor portrait of Dedekind dated 1589 and dedicated to his son Euricius was uncovered beneath the cover of his personal Bible at the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Library in Hannover.
Plays
- Der christliche Ritter ("The Christian Knight") (1576)
- Papista conversus (1596)