Johann Ludwig Tieck (1773–1853) was a German poet, novelist, translator, and critic, considered a founding figure of German Romanticism. His works combined fairy tales, medieval themes, and philosophical reflections, shaping the movement.
Born in Berlin, Prussia, Tieck studied at the Universities of Halle, Göttingen, and Erlangen, developing a passion for Shakespeare, Elizabethan drama, and medieval literature. His early works, including Die Geschichte des Herrn William Lovell (1795–96, The Story of Mr. William Lovell,) explored a young intellectual’s psychological struggles.
His shift to Romanticism is evident in Volksmärchen von Peter Leberecht (1797, Folktales of Peter Leberecht,) which includes Der blonde Eckbert (1797, Fair Eckbert,) a fantasy tale of paranoia and the supernatural. His novel Franz Sternbalds Wanderungen (1798, Franz Sternbald’s Wanderings) was among the first Romantic novels, celebrating artistic life and medieval aesthetics.
Later works include Phantasus (1812–16, Phantasus,) a collection of fairy tales and dramatic pieces, and his translations of Shakespeare’s plays, which influenced German literary appreciation of Shakespeare.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Ludwig Tieck
He is not dead who departs from life with a high and noble fame; but he is dead, even while living, whose brow is branded with infamy.
—Ludwig Tieck
Topics: Living, Life
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