Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 12, 1871

Overview

A day of reading moves from Gibbon's limited view of ancient Germans to Jakob Grimm's far richer imaginative world. Domestic sociability fills the afternoon, while Richard keeps working despite another cold. The household ends in familiar evening study, with intellectual pleasure set beside concern for his health.

Content

Thursday, January 12:

While yesterday laughing over Gibbon's childish description of the "barbarian" Germans, we find ourselves talking about J. Grimm's incomparable achievements, and R. read me a few pages from his Mythology, which does indeed open up to one an entire world.

Family lunch, gay and companionable; afterward, visit from Countess B.; in the evening Gibbon. R. works, but unfortunately he has caught another cold.