Walking the Tightrope

Paul Rée's friendship with Fritz began in 1873 when Paul, visiting Basel for other reasons, chose to attend several of the Herr Professor’s lectures. Paul promptly approached Fritz and soon each was enjoying the other’s company socially. The two stayed in touch and had regular visits. Along with Franz Overbeck and Peter Gast ( Heinrich Köselitz ), Paul was one of the very few friends with whom Fritz could express total honesty. Gast, of course, did proofing on most of Nietzsche’s published work to date. So, he was closely connected with everything Fritz wrote. Overbeck and Fritz had a very close relationship, as is posted here . But, with Paul, Fritz could be completely himself. By all accounts, Fritz was witty, able to display brief moments of dexterity in his otherwise near-sighted state, a good listener, possessed an entertaining sense of humor, a great conversationalist on a range of topics, clever with piano improvisations when such was available, enjoyed a good party, and