Yvonne Pietsch

Dr. Yvonne Pietsch is a literary scholar working at the Goethe and Schiller Archive in Weimar, Germany, and participates in the Children's University program at Bauhaus University Weimar. She specializes in the study of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's extensive correspondence, examining approximately 15,000 surviving letters through meticulous scholarly analysis.

Her research focuses on uncovering new insights about Goethe's multifaceted life as both a poet and natural scientist, theater director, library administrator, and art connoisseur. Dr. Pietsch collaborates with fellow scholars to produce critical editions of Goethe's letters that include explanatory notes and contextual information, making these historical documents accessible in both print publications and digital formats. She finds particular fulfillment in discovering previously unnoticed details within the manuscripts that shed new light on Goethe's intellectual processes and personal relationships.

As an educator, Dr. Pietsch is passionate about sharing her archival work with children through the Children's University lectures. She aims to transport young audiences into historical contexts, drawing meaningful connections between Goethe's era and contemporary life while emphasizing reading as 'the most beautiful adventure in the world.' Her approach reflects her childhood love of books and enduring fascination with how stories are constructed, who tells them, and their impact on audiences across time.