author
Allen Wilson Porterfield
1877–1952
Best known as a scholar of German literature, this American educator wrote clearly about the Romantic movement and also brought major European works into English. His books and translations helped open a path for general readers as well as students.
1 Audiobook
Graf von Loeben and the Legend of Lorelei From "Modern Philology" vol. 13 (1915)
by Allen Wilson Porterfield
About the author
Born in Belington, West Virginia, Allen Wilson Porterfield lived from 1877 to 1952 and is identified in library and reference records as an American educator, author, and translator. He is remembered chiefly for his work in German studies, especially his 1914 book An Outline of German Romanticism, 1766–1866.
Porterfield also translated fiction and literary works from German into English. Project Gutenberg and other library catalogs list him in connection with The Goose Man by Jakob Wassermann, along with his own study Graf von Loeben and the Legend of Lorelei, showing the range of his interests from literary history to translation.
Although detailed biographical information is limited in the sources available, the record that survives points to a writer-teacher devoted to making German literature more accessible. His work still appeals to readers interested in literary history, folklore, and early twentieth-century scholarship.