Charlotte von Kirschbaum (1899-1975) was born in Ingolstadt in Bavaria and was educated in Munich. She was serving as a Red Cross nurse when, in 1924, she was introduced to Karl Barth, a radical young university lecturer who was to transform the theology of the twentieth century. In 1929, after she had trained as a secretary, she began a partnership with Barth that lasted until her health gave way in 1964. She encouraged Barth to write his monumental Church Dogmatics, herself providing the footnotes, detached notes, and exegesis for the work.
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Reviews
Eberhard Busch --author of Karl Barth "This welcome English translation of the writings of Charlotte von Kirschbaum, with its sensitively written introduction by Eleanor Jackson, brings back memories of this significant woman, the aide to Karl Barth. I knew her as unconventional, courageous, sensitive, kind, and very intelligent. Women have come a long way since her statement on 'the question of woman.' But even today it is worthwhile to remember her and to compare her insights with what has been achieved since then." George Hunsberger --Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, New Jersey "Strong theology makes strong Christians -- as this wonderful book readily attests. No one can afford to ignore it who cares about the full equality of women in a church that remains the church. At last Charlotte von Kirschbaum emerges with her own voice for English-speaking readers. This strong, noble, and unconventional woman -- who transcends all philistine criticism, whether from the past or the present -- gives us much to think about." H. Martin Rumscheidt --Atlantic School of Theology "In the mosaic of Karl Barth literature, this study is one of those gems without which the larger picture suffers distortion. Eleanor Jackson's well-done introduction throws a carefully measured light on Charlotte von Kirschbaum, her work, her relationship with Karl Barth, and her contribution to his theology. But it is von Kirschbaum's actual writings that make this small book a necessary addition to the Barth mosaic while, at the same time, showing that the often overlooked gem has a beautiful radiance of its own."