Bechstein, Ludwig, writer, fairytale poet, Herzogl. Sachsen-Meininger Hofrat, librarian and archivist (1801-1860). Eigh. Letter m. U. "Your Bechstein". 3 pp., closely described. Double leaf with a lithograph. View in the letter head. Gr. 8vo. My 12.X.1858. To the [unnamed] writer Karl Sondershausen (1792-1882), who had sent two plays to Bechstein, in the hope of seeing them performed on the Meininger stage. "... One thing I forgot in the hurry with which I tried to put you in possession of your pieces as soon as possible, which were not even allowed to stay in the above house [although the view of a group of houses depicted as lithography in the letterhead], as hospitable as I am otherwise minded; namely to write that I read with antheil and applause the two pieces which were written on the finer paper are. Beautiful and noble language, lively dialogue ... distinguishes the same. The third I did not read, 1) because of lack of time, 2) because I do not love adaptations after French. But one will not accept the larger play everywhere in court theatres, because the prince is not worthy enough in the first scene, and the service people are given a greater margin of manoeuvre than they deserve. It is extremely difficult to perform the person of a reigning Lord in pleasure games in such a way that such a party, if a court is a spectator, does not incite or hurt, and does not lose all the position of a ruling Lord, even of a mediated one, in the eyes of the public; it must therefore always be carried by true dignity, even in the lust, and the prince has Of her piece quite the stuff, he would only have to show himself less bizarre in the beginning ...". - Then addresses several other topics, among them Sondershausen's book "Der letzte aus Alt-Weimar. Memories and poetry. "... This title is excellently chosen, and I look forward to it very much. You must know that I have great fondness for Weimar, Providence has done it, that I was born there, the most vivid childhood memories stand before my soul. Twice I saw Napoleon I in Weimar ...". Furthermore, about a bookseller and his ability to publish manuscripts that Bechstein has in his drawer. - Extensive, literary and theatre-historically interesting letter. The building depicted in the letterhead seems to be Bechstein's house, lithographed by W. Arndt after a drawing by Otto Bechstein in Altenburg.