born Sept. 9, 1778, Ehrenbreitstein, near Koblenz
died July 28, 1842, Aschaffenburg, Bavaria
German poet, novelist, and dramatist.
He was one of the founders of the Heidelberg Romantic school, which emphasized German folklore and history. With his brother-in-law Achim von Arnim (1781–1831), he published Des Knaben Wunderhorn (1805–08; The Youth's Magic Horn ), a collection of German folk lyrics (including successful imitations of folk style) that became an important inspiration to lyric poets and composers such as Gustav Mahler . Among his most successful works are his fairy tales, particularly Gockel, Hinkel and Gackeleia (1838).