My (deeply thought) Fritz Bhaer Timeline (Little Women)

(Little Women)

1830 on the 12th of July 1830 Frierich Karl Christian Bhaer is born to Ludwig and Elsa Bhaer in Friedenau, central Berlin.

(all based on real-life Friedrich´s. Birthday from Henry David Thoreau and the name from Charles Follen. Friedenau in Berlin was well-known place of middle-class inhabitants and poets, philosophers and artists).

1835 Little Fritz starts his school journey. He is a lively child who is especially fond of music and reading.

1836 Little sister Minna is born. Friedrich´s grandfather, Opa gives him his first violin.

1840 Friedrich´s father Ludwig leaves his family and this leaves an everlasting scar to 10 years old Friedrich´s heart.

(This is based on a mention in “Little Men” where it is said that while holding his son, Fritz remembers father who walked away from his family”).

Fritz makes a promise to his mother and sister to always look after them.

1841 While doing soul searching and thinking about his fathers' actions, 11-year-old Friedrich experiences a spiritual awakening.

1844 14-year-old Friedrich finishes the Gymnasium (his basic education). To save money for university he goes to work at his uncle´s book store. World of Goethe and Schiller opens. He also works as an assistant and a handyman in the local church, Nikolaikirche.

1848 Friedrich enrolls to the Univeristy of Berlin Universistät Zu Berlin to start his phd in philosophy. He has chosen to study humanities, theology, philosophy, ethics and classical languages. He studies Greek, French, Italian, Latin and English.

(Based to the mention in the book that Friedrich speaks several languages. Once again these languages are ones that the real-life Friedrich´s studied and spoke: Henry Thoreau and Charles Follen…who as you can see, were impressive polyglots).

1849 -1851 Fritz forms friendships in the university and spends wildlife of a uni student.

Loses his boyhood to a German barmaid (inspired by a fic by Middlemarch).

1852–1853 As part of his phd studies and seeking adventure Friedrich lives a year in Paris studying in the Pántheon-Sorbonne.

1856 Fritz finishes his doctrinaire degree and is offered a full time teaching position in the university of Berlin, philosophy department. He has started to gain fame as a desired lecturer and a captivating speaker.

1857 Friedrich´s and Minna´s mother Elsa passes away.

1858 Minna who has worked as a secretary in a Berlin newspaper has met a German-American man, a journalist called Jacob Hoffman and decides to move to New York with him. Friedrich has his doubts but he has to let her go, if that is what she wants.

1859 Minna gives birth to her firstborn across the Atlantic. The boy´s name is Franz Friedrich Hoffman.

1861 Minna gives birth to another child, Emil Rollo Hoffman. Jacob leaves Minna and the boys for another woman.

1863 Friedrich has established a firm position in the university. He is worried about the decreasing fear that the wars between the German city-states endure. He receives a letter from his sister that she is ill and would like to see him.

1864 Friedrich arrives in New York. He finds her sister in a worse condition than he could have imagined. She and the boys are living in a poor house. Franz is 5 and Emil is 3. Friedrich makes a decision to notify the university that for the time being he won't be returning to Germany. Just a few months after Fritz has arrived Minna passes away quietly in her sleep.

1865 New York is different from Berlin but Friedrich enjoys the cultural diversity and that there are lots of German immigrants like him, who face similar struggles. One day Friedrich meets Mrs Melinda Kirk who kindly offers him to stay at her boarding house and work as a teacher. Fritz feels like his prayers have been answered.

1868 Fritz has come to the realization that being a highly profiled educator in Germany means nothing in this new land. He is at crossroads wondering what is the next path to take in life.

1869 He meets Jo March, a spirited American woman and suddenly feels like the world is filled with opportunities.

Friedrich has had affairs and flings, but Jo is different. They can talk for hours about everything. She doesn´t see herself as beautiful but she is that to Friedrich. Not only is she beautiful, but he is also fascinated by her mind and her curiosity about the world.

1870 Jo left to took care of an ill sister. Fritz knows all too well what that is like. He can´t stop thinking about her and he is scared. Is she engaged to the young and rich Laurie or not? Still remembering Jo and reading the letters she wrote to him and the poems she has published. Friedrich makes his decision. He and the boys are going to leave New York.

1871 Friedrich arrives in Concord. He is the most nervous he has ever been but Jo is so happy to see him and his heart skips a beat when he meets her again. Her family is filled with warmth and laughter and the best part: Mr Laurie is actually married to Jo´s sister! Fritz feels like he is walking on air.

Fritz is looking at Jo´s picture and imagines her with her hair open and himself kissing Jo(in the 19th century loose hair was a symbol of sexuality). This is all in the book.

With the help of his German friends, Fritz has found a teaching position but it is far away from Concord. He proposes Jo under the umbrella and she says yes and she agrees to work together for their future. They kiss on the porch. Friedrich is the happiest man on earth.

1872 Jo visits Friedrich in Chicago. By the fire she talks to him about her desire to start a school, Friedrich thinks that it´s a great idea and they could do it together.

1873 Aunt March leaves Plumfield to Jo in her will. Friedrich and Jo marry. To Friedrich´s surprise, Jo has asked John to help her and says her Wedding vow in German.

(this is based on the notion in the book that, John Brooke speaks German).

Jo and Fritz begin to turn Plumfield into a school.

1874 Highly anticipated baby. Little Rob is born. Jo and Friedrich are over the moon. The boy is given the name Robert Friedrich Bhaer. Meg and John are his godparents.

Bhaer Academy for boys is officially open.

1876 Little Teddy is born. Jo and Friedrich live tranquil life together. Boy gets the name Theodore Ludwig Bhaer. Why did they decide to name him after Friedrich´s father? Fritz didn´t really know himself either, but it had something to do with forgiveness and Fritz remembered that the boy´s godfather who he was also named after, also grew without a father and now he and Amy had difficulties having children of their own. (Inspired by the book and this fic https://archiveofourown.org/works/18515428 ) Amy and Laurie are Teddy´s godparents.

(Little Men)

1877 Jo and Fritz decide to officially adopt Franz and Emil to protect their legal rights, in case their biological father ever decides to contact them. It never happens but it gives a sense of relief for the boys. They considered Fritz as their father anyway, and Jo as their Mutti (mom).

(Based on the book where it is mentioned that Franz and Emil saw Friedrich as their father, and Jo especially was very close with Franz, who she loved like her own son. Emil was always somewhat independent but still loved Jo and Fritz dearly).

Jo and Fritz are having really great sex. (book)

(Based on the afterglow scene in Little Men).

1878 Friedrich is helping Franz with his studies so he can get into the university he wants.

Nat and Dan arrive at Bhaer Academy. Fritz tries to help Dan but he is too proud. Jo manages to get through him (book).

Jo and Friedrich decide to take in girl students. (book)

1879 Dan runs away, but then comes back. (book)

Rob goes missing. Jo is panicking, Fritz is panicking but doesn´t want to show that to Jo or the children and he feels like dying and then comes back to life when they find him. (book)

(Jo´s Boys) 1881 Marmee passes away.

1883 Jo publishes her version of “Little Women”. Suddenly the family is wealthy and they use the money to expand the campus. (book)

Jo doesn´t like fame at all. (book)

1884 Both being wealthy ladies Amy and Jo make a 3 month trip to Italy to see the Roman Forum like they always wanted, after Marmee´s passing they feel like spending more time together as sisters. They invite Meg too but she doesn´t want to take such a long trip. (This is based on the actual trip that Louisa and May Alcott did).

Friedrich supports Jo´s writing like he has always done. (book)

1885 Emil works as a sailor. Franz has met a nice German girl and moved into Berlin. (book)

Nat is trying his wings in Germany and learns hard lessons. (book)

Friedrich takes Jo on a trip to the mountains. (This is mentioned in the book. There is also dirty fanfic about it that I am going to read in the podcast).

Rob and Teddy have very different tempers but they are best friends and adored by their parents.

Jo and Fritz are living a happy life together. Fritz who is in his 70s is making out with his wife behind a fan. (Yes, it is in the book!)

1886 Nat returns to Concord and asks Daisy to marry him.

1900When Jo´s books are translated into German and French Jo and Fritz travel to Europe to a book tour (okay I made this one up, but IT´S PERFECT because they can visit Franz and his wife in Berlin). Friedrich shows Jo around the city he grew up in. Takes her to see the university and to meet his friends and relatives. It is about time to present Jo to the family.

Rob follows in his father's footsteps and becomes a university professor at the Bhaer academy. Ted goes to study theology and eventually becomes a priest (this is from the book).

(Jo and Fritz live happily ever after).

………….

I don´t think there are enough words to describe how much I love this man and how perfect this couple is.

Check out my video essay Love and Sex in Little Women as well

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