Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Author
(763 words)

Author is derived from the Latin term auctor or autor in the sense “originator,” “founder.” The earliest German attestation appears in Steinhöwel’s translation of Boccaccio’s De claris mulieribus (1473); not until the 18th century does the term become prevalent in the sense “composer of literary works.” Goethe understood an author as primarily a writer who reflects on his impact, his potential to influence the public, and his social role [2].

The early modern author was not primarily viewed as a literary author, but rather as a publishing scholar, intellectual, pr…

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Sauder, Gerhard, “Author”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_017267>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321



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