17th-century Swiss literature is often regarded as boring, though this opinion is not justified. Now, the Humanistica Helvetica II

Who would have thought that 17th-century Switzerland was so full of literary rebellion? In 1629 in the city of St. Gallen, for example, the courageous school principal David Wetter defended the theatre against fierce theological hostility in his paper entitled «On comedies». And Johannes Barzaeus, a canon from Solothurn, attempted to unite the country across denominational divides in his work «Swiss hero letters» (1657). These texts are evidence of the hotly debated subjects from that era, which still have relevance today.

By 2028, the Fribourg research team aims to have published dozens of these texts on a website, making them available in German and French for scholars and literature fans alike.

Latin literature on surprisingly contemporary topics
Why should we still be interested in 17th-century Latin literature today? Quite simply: these works are a window to the past, but they address topics that still concern us today – from religious conflicts to political identity to cultural discussions. With its new Humanistica Helvetica II research project, the University of Fribourg is shedding light on this era of literature and showing that Latin is not at all a dead language, but rather is full of life and drama.

Study day in Fribourg: experts take a closer look at forgotten masterpieces
On 4th October 2024, Humanistica Helvetica is organising a study day on Swiss Neo-Latin literature in Fribourg and is bringing in renowned experts in the field. Researchers from Switzerland and abroad will present these newly discovered literary treasures from the 17th century. Participation is free and is open to anyone interested in history, literature or simply exciting cultural experiences. 

About Humanistica Helvetica
The Fribourg research team involved in Humanistica Helvetica is led by PD Dr. David Amherdt and supported by Dr. Kevin Bovier and Dr. Clemens Schlip. The team has been working on this project since 2020 and has already compiled a comprehensive online archive of Latin texts from 16th-century German-speaking regions of Switzerland. Now, the new, expanded project is set to start: from 2024 to 2028, the team will explore the literary landscape of the 17th century, not only in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, but also in the French-speaking areas and the canton of Ticino. The goal is to bring the past to life and to bring it closer to a contemporary readership.

Project FNS Humanistica Helvetica
https://humanistica-helvetica.unifr.ch