Sophie Mereau

She wrote novels, stories and poems, and she translated and published journals.

Mereau was born as Sophie Friederike Schubart on 27 March 1770 in Altenburg. Mereau learned Spanish, French, English, and Italian at a young age. Her mother died when Mereau was 16, and her father died when she was 20. On 4 April 1793 she married Karl Mereau, moving to Jena where he was a lawyer. Through her husband she met Friedrich Schiller, who considered Mereau to be somewhat of a protégé. By 1794 she took her first lover. In 1795 she traveled with another lover to Berlin, shocking many in Jena high society. Mereau had two children with Karl, Gustav and Hulda. After the death of her first child, Gustav, she divorced Karl Mereau. The summer of 1800 she spent with relatives in Camburg. There she edited three literary journals, published poetry, wrote several stories, and finished her novel, Amanda und Eduard. Parts of Amanda und Eduard was published in Schiller's Die Horen. On 12 December 1802 she restarted her relationship with Clemens Brentano with whom she had an affair during her first marriage. Mereau only decided to marry Brentano when she became pregnant in November 1803 with their son, Achim Ariel born May 1804, who died six weeks after birth. The marriage was troubled and the couple spent time apart. In May 1805 her fourth child was born, but the baby died a few weeks later. Mereau's fifth child was a miscarriage and at this time she became ill. She converted to Catholicism and many scholars believe the time between her conversion and death were her happiest. Mereau died at 36 from a hemorrhage after delivering her sixth child.

Sophie Mereau was recorded at birth as Sophie Friederike Schubart. She also worked under the name Seraphine. The authorities additionally record the headings Sophie Friederike Schubart, Sophie Schubart, Sophie Friederike Mereau, Sophie Brentano and Sophie Friederike Brentano. Her recorded language was German. She was the child of Gotthelf Schubart. She married Clemens Brentano.

Sophie Mereau is recorded with the occupation writer. Recorded as writer, poet, editor and translator.