Eichendorff

Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788–1857) was a German Romantic poet and novelist, regarded as one of the leading figures of German Romanticism. His work is noted for its musical language, vivid nature imagery, and themes of wandering, memory, and the encounter between the everyday world and dream or myth. His best-known pieces include the lyric collection Gedichte and the novella Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts (From the Life of a Good-for-Nothing). The poem Mondnacht is often cited as a hallmark of Romantic lyric.

Life and career: Born into a Swabian noble family in Silesia, Eichendorff studied law and literature at several universities and joined the military, serving as an officer during the Napoleonic Wars. After the wars, he pursued literature, publishing prolifically in the 1810s–1830s and becoming associated with the early Romantic circle in Germany. His writings appeared in journals and anthologies throughout the period, contributing to a revived interest in medieval imagery, folklore, and nature within German literature.

Legacy: Eichendorff's concise, musical verses and his blend of natural imagery with spiritual longing influenced later poets, including the later Romantic generation and, more broadly, 19th-century German literature. His works remain central to the German Romantic canon and have been translated into many languages.