born March 15, 1830, Berlin, Prussia
died April 2, 1914, Munich, Ger.
German writer.
An independent scholar, he led a circle of writers in Munich who sought to preserve traditional artistic values from the encroachment of political radicalism, materialism, and realism. His admired short stories and novellas were collected in numerous volumes; he also published novels, including Children of the World (1873) and Merlin (1892), and many unsuccessful plays. Among his best works are his translations of Giacomo Leopardi and other Italian and Spanish poets; many were set to music by Hugo Wolf . His popularity was already declining when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1910.