Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 5, 1874

Overview

Nietzsche’s unexpected arrival, illness, and quick recovery at the house bring both pleasure and unease. The visit becomes cheerful on the surface, but his accounts of newspaper life and university circles expose a more disturbing intellectual climate, while Richard manages a little more work.

Content

Wednesday, August 5:

In the afternoon a note tells us that Prof. Nietzsche is here, but lying ill in his hotel, the Sonne. R. goes there and brings him back to our house at once.

He soon recovers, and we spend a cheerful evening together. But what he tells us about the newspapers and about university people is horrifying.

R. again did a little orchestrating.