Eichendorff, Joseph Von

Eichendorff, Joseph Von

 

Born Mar. 10,1788, at Lubow-itz Castle; died Nov. 26,1857, in Neisse. Baron; German writer.

Eichendorff studied at the University of Halle in 1805 and 1806 and at the University of Heidelberg in 1807 and 1808. He fought in the war of liberation of 1813 against Napoleon. Eichendorffs poems were first published in 1808. His lyrics, which are devoid of tragedy or dark overtones, contain vivid depictions of nature, in harmonious union with which is the figure of the romantic poet. His songs are an intrinsic part of his prose works, such as his novella Memoirs of a Good-for-nothing (1826; Russian translation, 1935) and his short stories and novels. Many of Eichendorffs songs were set to music by F. Schubert, F. Mendelssohn, and R. Schumann. Tendencies toward realism appear in his later works. Eichendorff also was the author of works of literary history.

WORKS

Werke und Schriften, vols. 1–4. Stuttgart, 1957–60.
Werke. Munich, 1971.
In Russian translation:
Stikhotvoreniia. Leningrad, 1969.

REFERENCES

Zhirmunskii, V. M. Religioznoe otrechenie v istorii romantizma. Moscow, 1919.
Krabiel, K. D. J. Von Eichendorff: Kommentierte Studien Bibliographie. Frankfurt am Main, 1971.