author
August von Kotzebue
1761–1819
A hugely popular playwright in his own time, he wrote fast-moving dramas and comedies that captivated audiences across Europe. His life ended violently in 1819, giving his story an unusual place in both literary and political history.
5 Audiobooks
Tri unuaktaj komedioj
by August von Kotzebue, Marie Hankel, T. Williams
The virgin of the sun : A play, in five acts
by August von Kotzebue
Suorin tie paras : Yksinäytöksinen ilveily
by August von Kotzebue
Lovers' Vows
by August von Kotzebue, Mrs. Inchbald
The Stranger: A Drama, in Five Acts
by August von Kotzebue
About the author
Born in Weimar in 1761, August von Kotzebue studied law before building a career that moved between literature and public service. He became one of the most commercially successful dramatists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, writing an enormous number of plays that were widely staged and translated.
His work was known for strong emotion, theatrical twists, and broad appeal. Although later critics often judged the plays harshly, his popularity during his lifetime was remarkable, and his writing helped shape popular European theater in his era.
Kotzebue also worked in Russian service, including diplomatic roles. In 1819 he was killed in Mannheim by the student Karl Ludwig Sand, an event that quickly became politically charged and helped fix his name in history far beyond the stage.