Bitzius, ALBERT, better known under the nom de plume of Jeremias Gotthelf, a popular Swiss author, bepraised by Ruskin, was born at Murten, in the canton of Freiburg, 4th October 1797. He studied theology at Bern, and became in 1832 pastor of Lützelflüh, in Emmenthal, which office he retained till his death, 22d October 1854. A monument was reared to him in 1887. Bitzius has assured himself lasting popularity by his masterly delineations of Swiss popular life. His stories are characterised by rare simplicity and truth, lightened by delicate humour and graceful fancy. The best and most popular of his stories are Käthi, die Grossmutter (1847); Uli, der Knecht (1841), and its continuation, Uli, der Pächter (1849); and Erzählungen und Bilder aus dem Volksleben der Schweiz (5 vols. 1852–55). In his later years he wrote several pamphlets against the German democrats, without, however, violating those popular sympathies and liberal convictions which pervade his writings, and which at an earlier period led him vehemently to oppose the Bernese aristocracy. Complete editions of his works appeared at Berlin in 12 vols. (1856–57) and in 24 vols. (1861). A selection was edited by his son in 3 vols. (Berlin,
1878).—See Brockhaus, Jeremias Gotthelf, der Volkschriftsteller (1876).