226

BETTINA.-CHARLOTTE STIEGLITZ.

presented us with a book, observes Feuchtersleben, whose amenity and poetical beauties beam out the more freshly and entrancingly, the oftener we peruse it.

But our authoress has also recently published a new book, entitled "Die Günderode." This work, like the one treated above, contains delineations of the calmest aspects of the world and of human society. Everything in "Die Günderode" is at once felt to be true and life-like; full of the out-breathings of youth, and of life-buoyant freshness. An affluence of ideas and reflections is generated in the mind, almost as a natural consequence, by reading this poetical book. Her last work, "Dies Buch gehört dem König,”—which is dedication and title at the same time,— is again poetical recollections of Frankfurt life, conversations with Frau Rath (Goethe's mother), and evinces all the beauties and faults of Bettina's former works.

CHARLOTTE STIEGLITZ (geborene Sophie Willhöft) Born 18th June 1806.

The whole nature and disposition of this authoress were of a sentimental cast. To lively, yet deep feeling, she united great powers of thought, with poetic sensibility. Her leading work bears the title of " Charlotte Stieglitz,"a memento put forth under the editorship of T. Mundt. Our authoress married Stieglitz, also a writer, who fell into a state of complete hypochondriasis, which gradually encreased. His lady being exceedingly attached to him, and being desirous of trying whether she could not (so to speak) startle him into sanity by some act of unexpected monstrosity, stabbed herself with a dagger. This dreadful event occurred on the 29th of December 1834.

TALE WRITERS AND NOVELISTS.

WILHELM HAUFF (1802-1827)

Was born at Stuttgart, on the 29th of November 1802. He entered upon a course of theology at Tübingen, but devoted himself ever afterwards to the elegant occupations of the muses. In 1827, Hauff undertook the editorship of the "Morgenblatt," but did not hold the office long, as he died on the 17th of November in the same year.

66

HAUFF's writings deserve a high place in this department of letters. His " Mährchen" prove him to be a master in the capacious and attractive edifice of fiction. Hauff's descriptions are all neatly executed, and what he has to tell is always of a startling nature. His "Memoiren des Satans"—rather a fragmentary and fugitive performance— contains, nevertheless, some rich descriptive parts. Hauff, by a few striking touches, rapidly delineates character with a life-like faithfulness, as in the case of Goethe. His next novel was "Der Mann im Monde." We further particularize Hauff's most celebrated novel of "Die Lichtensteiner." Then again his "Das Bild des Kaisers,” and his "Phantasien im Bremer Rathskeller," a work abounding with witty and clever portraiture. His minor stories, "Die Bettlerin vom Pont des Art," "Das kalte Herz," are likewise of a most amusing and entertaining kind.

KARL FRANZ VAN DER VELDE (1779-1824) Was born at Breslau, on the 29th of September 1779; became a barrister-at-law; and died on the 6th of April 1824. VAN DER VELDE has often been compared to Sir Walter Scott, from the circumstance of his having introduced historic characters and events into his various novels and tales. But the fiction itself was, after all, our author's chief concern; as was the display of human character with his illustrious parallel. Van der Velde's works form, as a

whole, a most interesting series of fictions, and occupy a very prominent station in the German national literature. Under the title of “Erzstufen,” this author gave to the world his first efforts in romance. Of these, "Die Tartarenschlacht" is the best, but "Filibustier," was scarcely so successfulthe one betraying scintillations of poetical genius, and the other being imperfectly and too sketchily executed. "Guido" is a moral tale, and of a character likely to prove generally useful and instructive. "Die Patrizier" and "Die Wiedertäufer" give us some very exact pictures of local customs and particular historical epochs, and are among the best things that van der Velde has done. The characteristic, powerful, and fascinating tale of Die Lichtensteiner" is entitled to the same credit, as being a forcible historical novel, with a rather romantic dénouement. "Die Maltheser" is a kindred performance with the three preceding; like them, exhibiting a faithful portraiture of popular habits and usages. Nevertheless, his Eroberung von Mexico" and "Arred Gyllenstierna" are accounted his best productions. Another effort of van der Velde's, "Christine und ihr Hof," has been much and deservedly admired. "Das Liebhaber Theater" is an interesting and well told tale: it contains many pleasant features, and is highly finished.

66

Our author is superior to many of his literary contemporaries, in the skill, originality, verisimilitude, and, above all, the decided moral tendency, that so eminently pervade his novels; while they embody a large variety of historical facts and incidents, which are set forth in a truthful manner, and not unfrequently grow into a beautiful and almost poetic style.

CHRISTIAN WEISSFLOG (1780-1828) Was born on the 27th of December 1780. He was a doctor of jurisprudence; and died the 17th of July 1828, at Warmbrunn.

66

The Phantasiestücke" and "Historien" of this author

are a collection of amusing anecdotes and current adventures, and an emporium of the different novelties in vogue in the times in which he lived. Weissflog's works are very cleverly written: his style is sterling and powerful, exhibiting much refined taste and judgment.

FRANZ HORN (1781-1837)

Was born in the town of Brunswick, on the 30th of July 1781; became a doctor of philosophy, and died at Berlin, on the 19th of July 1837.*

HORN was an exceedingly industrious writer. His novel entitled "Der Dichter" is considered his best work; but also his "Kampf und Sieg" has several sterling parts, and argues favourably of Horn's talents and deep feelings.

Horn's works on German literature,-such as, for example, his "Geschichte und Kritik der deutschen Poesie," and "Die schöne Literatur Deutschlands," are evidently penned in a tone of enthusiastic love for the subjects on which they treat, showing, at the same time, considerable intelligence; and although Horn's critical judgment is not in all cases to be implicitly relied on, yet these works have been of considerable importance. Erläuterungen über Shakspeare's Schauspiele" was the occupation of more than twenty years. It contains many interesting and valuable remarks, that serve to illustrate and explain the text of the great English dramatist.

66

ALEXANDER AUGUST FERDINAND VON BRONIKOWSKY (1788-1834)

Born at Leipsic, on the 28th of February 1788; in the Prussian and Polish service, formed one of the staff of the Duke of Bellino: since 1815 Polish major. He died at Dresden, on the 22nd of January 1834.

BRONIKOWSKY wrote a number of novels and tales, in

* Franz Horn, ein biographisches Denkmal. 1839.

which he generally introduced historical personages and events. His best novel is unquestionably the one he has called "Veit;" and most of his writings are good specimens of the Novelistic school of fiction. Not but that a certain carelessness may be often detected in his descriptive portions, which certainly impairs the effect that Bronikowsky's compositions would otherwise be calculated to produce. His "Polen im 17ten Jahrhundert" is not based upon deep historical knowledge.

FRIEDRICH GUSTAV SCHILLING (1766)

Born 25th of November 1766, at Dresden; was a captain in the army.

SCHILLING is a great mannerist: he has written at least fifty tolerable novels and tales. Of these, "Röschen's Geheimnisse," "Das Weib wie es ist," "Der Roman im Romane," "“Die Brautschau,” "Häusliche Bilder," &c., may be mentioned as some of his happiest efforts; yet "Guido von Sohnsdom" is one of his cleverest attempts.

HISTORIANS.

ARNOLD HERMANN LUDWIG HEEREN (1760-1842) Was born the 27th October 1760, at Arbergen, near Bremen, and held, since 1801, the professorships of philosophy and history at the university of Göttingen, where he died in

1842.

Heeren was assuredly one of the most ingenious historiographers of his time. In Göttingen, the real seat and school of modern historical research and composition, he wrote with an iron industry, in harmony with the spirit of the time, and with a constant view to farther enlightenment. His inquiries into the science of politics, known to