G. E. Lessing

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781) was a German writer, playwright, and publicist of the Enlightenment. He studied theology, philosophy, and medicine in Leipzig and Wittenberg and worked as a theatre writer, critic, dramaturge, and librarian in Wolfenbüttel. His best-known plays include “Minna von Barnhelm,” “Emilia Galotti,” and “Nathan the Wise.” He also wrote literary criticism, fables, and epigrams. His work made a significant contribution to the development of German theatre, and “Nathan the Wise” is notably shaped by the idea of religious tolerance.