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Help, My Mother is an Influencer! Switzerland's Hildegard von Bingen and Book Tips from 'NZZ am Sonntag'
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Culture & Society

Help, My Mother is an Influencer! Switzerland's Hildegard von Bingen and Book Tips from 'NZZ am Sonntag'

From Neue Zürcher Zeitung · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A biography explores the life of Barbara von Roll, a 16th-century Swiss healer renowned for her knowledge of medicinal herbs.
  • The book "Der Trost der Pflanzen" by Mara Meier reconstructs von Roll's life, highlighting her experiments with plant-based remedies and her influence on public health policy.
  • A separate review discusses a young adult novel, "Frei," about a teenager dealing with his mother's career as an influencer and financial struggles.

The biography "Der Trost der Pflanzen" by Mara Meier delves into the life of Barbara von Roll, a 16th-century Swiss woman from Solothurn celebrated for her expertise in herbal medicine. Contemporary accounts lauded her healing abilities, comparing her knowledge to Hippocrates and noting her treatment of patients from afar. Von Roll's influence extended to public health, as she was granted extraordinary authority over her finances and property in 1532 and, in 1560, advised the Solothurn council to appoint a city midwife.

She shone like the moon among lesser celestial lights.

— GlareanA quote from a humanist and Renaissance scholar describing Barbara von Roll.

Meyer's novelistic biography reconstructs von Roll's life using historical research, imbuing it with narrative drama and a sense of intimacy with this remarkable figure. Each chapter focuses on a specific medicinal plant, such as marjoram, angelica, and meadowsweet, which were central to medical treatments of the era. The author suggests von Roll's success stemmed from her combination of studying medical literature and experimenting with herbal concoctions, testing their effects on herself.

In her knowledge of the healing power of herbs, she was equal to Hippocrates.

— GlareanA quote from a humanist and Renaissance scholar describing Barbara von Roll's medical expertise.

Separately, the article reviews "Frei," a young adult novel by Sarah Welk. The story follows 15-year-old Koray, who navigates the challenges of adolescence alongside his single mother, an influencer. Their lives take a drastic turn when her Instagram account is suspended, cutting off their income. Forced to move in with his grandmother in the village of Rottloch, Koray befriends classmates Nico, Nina, Nasrin, and Josh. Together, they devise a plan for Koray's mother to earn money legally and quickly.

The comfort of plants.

— Mara MeierThe title of the biographical novel about Barbara von Roll.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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