Heinrich Hössli

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Heinrich Hössli
Heinrich Hössli

Heinrich Hössli (August 6, 1784 in Glarus - December 24, 1864 in Winterthur), sometimes written as Hößli, was a Swiss hatter and author.

Hössli wrote the book Eros. Die Männerliebe der Griechen, which was one of the first books that defended love between men in 19th century, and used as its philosophical foundation the Greek writings on pederasty.[1]

Hössli was born the oldest of 14 children to hatter Hans Jakob Hössli (1758-1846) and Margreth Vogel (1757-1831). He learned his father's occupation in Bern. [2] Back in Glarus he worked as hatter and also started a business in trading women's clothing. His hats for women were famous in the region of Glarus. In 1811 he married Elisabeth Grebel and had two sons who immigrated to the United States. For most of his marriage, his wife lived and sons lived in Zurich. Hössli lived in Glarus.

[edit] Works by Hössli

  • Eros, Die Männerliebe der Griechen, ihre Beziehungen zur Geschichte, Erziehung, Literatur und Gesetzgebung aller Zeiten, 2. B#nfr (1. Band: Glarus 1836; 2. Band: Sankt Gallen 1838), Reprint Verlag Rosa Winkel, Berlin 1998, Band 1: ISBN 3-86149-056-0, Band 2: ISBN 3-86149-057-9
  • New Band 3: Documents by Heinrich Hössli with introduction by Manfred Herzer, short biography by Karsch and novelle Der Eros von Zschokke, ISBN 3-86149-058-7
  • Hexenprozeß- und Glauben, Pfaffen und Teufel. Leipzig, 1892, 80 pages
Heinrich Hössli in older years
Heinrich Hössli in older years

[edit] References

  1. ^ David Halperin, One Hundred Years of Homosexuality, Routledge, 1990, 'Introduction', page 4
  2. ^ Kennedy, Hubert (2003), “Hössli, Heinrich”, glbtq.com, <http://www.glbtq.com/literature/hossli_h.html> 
  • Ferdinand Karsch-Haack, Der Putzmacher von Glarus Heinrich Hössli, ein Vorkämpfer der Männerliebe. Ein Lebensbild, Max Spohr, Leipzig 1903; ND New York: Arno Press 1975
  • Pirmin Meier, Mord, Philosophie und die Liebe der Männer. Franz Desgouttes und Heinrich Hössli - eine Parallelbiographie, Zürich 2001 ISBN 3-86612-023-0
  • Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller, Mann zu Mann, Pages 366