Hermann Goedsche
| Sir John Retcliffe | |
|---|---|
John Retcliffe
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| Born | Hermann Ottomar Friedrich Goedsche 12 February 1815 Trachenberg, Silesia |
| Died | 8 November 1878 (aged 63) Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój, Poland |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | German |
Hermann Ottomar Friedrich Goedsche (12 February 1815 – 8 November 1878), also known as his pseudonym Sir John Retcliffe was a German writer primarily remembered for his antisemitism.
Goedsche was born in Trachenberg, Silesia, then in the Kingdom of Prussia, today part of Poland. In 1848 he worked for the Neuen Preußischen (Kreuz-)Zeitung newspaper, together with prominent Germans like Theodor Fontane, Otto von Bismarck and George Hesekiel. In 1853 he travelled as a journalist to Turkey.
Goedsche worked in the genre of historical romance novel, as typified by Walter Scott, Charles Sealsfield and Theodor Mügge, but he was also influenced by authors like Eugène Sue, Alexandre Dumas, père and George Hesekiel. Some of his works are critical of British colonialism. He was openly antisemitic and, although adopting an English pseudonym, he was a Prussian chauvinist who held a profound aversion against Britain and everything British. His political views on the "perfidious Albion" are clearly expressed in his novels.
Goedsche worked as a postal employee, but in reality he was an agent provocateur for the Prussian secret police. He forged letters which were used as evidence to frame democratic leaders. In 1849 he was caught after forging evidence in the prosecution of political reformer Benedict Waldeck and had to leave the postal service.
He died at Bad Warmbrunn, today Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój in Jelenia Góra, in 1878.
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