Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of November 21, 1872

Overview

On the journey to Stuttgart, she unexpectedly met Marie Muchanoff, and the reunion was warm enough to brighten the day. Over lunch with Dr. Hemsen, the king's librarian, they learned that the court was reading Wagner's collected writings and had even acquired Nietzsche's book, though the political atmosphere remained disappointing. The evening was spent with Marie in conversation, while news about Frau von Meyendorff was distinctly unpleasant.

Content

Thursday, November 21:

Left at 11 o’clock, at 5 o’clock in Stuttgart, surprise meeting with Marie Muchanoff; much mutual delight. We eat together in the Hotel Marquardt with a Dr. Hemsen, librarian to the King of Württemberg; he tells me that he and the King are busy reading the collected writings, and he has acquired Nietzsche’s book for the library.

However, the Queen is under the thumb of Herr Lübke, so nothing for us here, either, since the King is shy and is considered stupid. To Les Huguenots; terrible stuff, almost worse than Le Prophète. Spent the evening with Marie M., talked about a lot of things. Heard truly bad things about Frau von Meyendorff.