Verweile doch. Das Goethe-Gespräch. Vera Viehöver, Valerie Leyh & Roman Gibhardt über Elisa von der Recke

Elisa von der Recke (1754–1833) became famous for speaking out publicly. In 1787, she published a treatise in which she exposed the schemes of the notorious magician Alessandro Cagliostro in her native Courland—and described her own experiences as one of his victims. This courageous move made her an instant sensation and earned her enormous popularity in Germany’s Enlightenment circles. 

Valérie Leyh and Vera Viehöver reissued the Cagliostro treatise in 2025 and will introduce this extraordinary woman in a conversation with Dr. Roman Gibhardt. The discussion will cover esotericism and belief in spirits, as well as the fascination with Freemasonry, fierce intellectual feuds, and, last but not least, Recke’s relationship with Goethe, Schiller, and their circle.