The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Stein, Charlotte von

STEIN, stīn, Charlotte von, German writer, friend of Goethe (q.v.): b. Weimar, 25 Dec. 1742; d. there, 6 Jan. 1827. She was married in 1764 to the duke's master of the horse. Her friendship with Goethe was broken suddenly after his return from Italy (1788). Goethe's &lsquo;Letters&rsquo; to her were first published in 1848-51, edited by Schott. Their almost perfect friendship for 10 years is believed to have profoundly assisted Goethe in his work. A final collection was printed by the Goethe Society in 1886. She wrote a tragedy &lsquo;Dido&rsquo; (1867; ed. by Duntzer). Consult the &lsquo;Life&rsquo; by Duntzer (1874).