Bernisches Freytags-Blätlein : In welchem die Sitten unser Zeiten von der Neuen Gesellschafft untersucht und beschrieben werden
The "Bernische Freytags-Blätlein", appearing between 1721 and 1724, belongs to the periodicals of moral instruction common in the 18th century. It was published by the "Neue Gesellschaft", the earliest literary circle of Berne. It patterned itself on the British weekly magazine "Spectator" and the "Discourse der Mahlern", published in Zurich, but used a simpler and more anecdotal style than its models. The "Bernische Freytags-Blätlein" aimed to appeal to women readers; its surname, "Gazette des dames", suggests that this was achieved.
In a weekly, 8-page long Discours the "Neue Gesellschaft" examined and described the morals of those times. The authors used pseudonyms such as Wilhelm Tell, Misanthrope, or Don Quixote.
The first four volumes of the "Bernische Freytags-Blätlein" were published by the "Neue Gesellschaft". After its liquidation in 1723, the weekly magazine continued to be published during one more year by the "Verneuerte Bernische Spectateur-Gesellschaft", explicitly founded for this purpose.
The Digitalization was allowed by DigiBern - Bernese Culture and History on the Web. DigiBern is a web offer by the University Library of Berne and includes digitized texts and maps pertaining to the history and culture of Berne city and the canton of Berne.
