Johannes Gerstmann is King Louis XV's singing-master. He meets Claire and Jamie Fraser at Louise de La Tour's salon.
Personal History[]
Little is known about Gerstmann's background, except that he is Austrian.[1] He is good friend with Mother Hildegarde, the mother superior at the Couvent des Anges who runs a charity hospital.
Events of the Novels[]
Dragonfly in Amber[]
Claire Fraser first meets Herr Gerstmann at Louise de La Tour's salon, where he is horrified to learn of Jamie's tone-deafness but pleased that Claire suffers no such malady. He later accompanies a group of ladies to L'Hôpital des Anges to do charity work, and advises Claire on approaching King Louis to request a royal pardon for Jamie.
Personality[]
Herr Gerstmann is enthusiastic and cheerful.
Physical Appearance[]
Described as a small, wizened specimen. He wore a wig that was a trifle too big, and tended to slide forward when he would nod.[2]
Name[]
- Johannes is a Latin form of Ioannes ('John),[3] English form of Iohannes, the Latin form of the Greek name Ιωαννης (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan) meaning "Yahweh (God) is gracious".[4]
- Gerstmann originated as an occupational name for a dealer in barley or a farmer who grew barley,[5] from German Gerste "barley" and Mann "man".
Trivia[]
TV Series[]
Herr Gerstmann does not appear in the STARZ adaptation of the Outlander series.
References[]
- ↑ The Outlandish Companion, "Cast of Characters"
- ↑ Dragonfly in Amber, chapter 11
- ↑ Behind the Name: Johannes - accessed 29 June 2016
- ↑ Behind the Name: John - accessed 29 June 2016
- ↑ Ancestry: Gerstman – accessed 29 June 2016.