Born: 6 December 1730, Germany
Died: 18 February 1807
Country most active: Germany
Also known as: Marie Sophie Gutermann von Gutershofen
From Woman: Her Position, Influence and Achievement Throughout the Civilized World. Designed and Arranged by William C. King. Published in 1900 by The King-Richardson Co. Copyright 1903 The King-Richardson Co.:
German authoress
Marie Sophie de la Roche, a talented German authoress, was the daughter of Herr Von Guterman, a very learned physician.
She was born December 6, 1731 at Kaufbeuren, and, as she grew up, was educated with great care. When she was only five years old, it is said she had read the Bible through. Von Guterman removed to Augsburg when his daughter was sixteen, where he was appointed town physician, and dean of the medical faculty. Here the daughter had new opportunities for mental cultivation, and received special assistance from Dr. Biancani, of Bologna, physician to the Prime Bishop of Augsburg. Dr. Biancani became very much attached to his pupil anti wished to marry her, but the father of Sophie opposed the match.
From this time she devoted herself to reading and study and shortly after took up her residence at Riberach in the house of a relative, Wieland by name. Here Sophie became acquainted with young Wieland, who drew her attention to German literature, and throughout her life inspired her to literary effort. A strong attachment sprang up between them, and they became engaged, but during Wieland’s prolonged absence in Switzerland, they were estranged, and when, in 1760, he returned to Riberach, he found Sophie the wife of M. de la Roche, counselor of state in Maine, and superintendent of the estates of Count Stadion. The friendship of Wieland, however, was resumed and continued uninterrupted till their death, a period of more than fifty years. M. de la Roche died in 17S9, while his wife survived until 1807.
Madame de la Roche wrote a number of works which showed her to be a woman of intellect, knowledge, and experience. In writing, however, she succeeded best in romances, in which she exhibited unusual powers of imagination and knowledge of the human heart. Her principal works are, History of the Lady of Sternburg, to which Wieland wrote a preface; Pomona, My Writing Desk, Letters on Manheim, Apparitions on Lake Oneida, Love Cottages, and Melusina’s Summer Night.
IW note: de la Roche is considered Germany’s first financially independent female professional writer.