author
Conrad von Bolanden
1828–1920
A 19th-century German priest-novelist, he turned church history and cultural debates into popular fiction for a wide Catholic readership. Writing under the name Conrad von Bolanden, he became known for historical novels that defended Catholic tradition in a changing age.
2 Audiobooks
The Progressionists, and Angela.
by Conrad von Bolanden
Barbarossa; An Historical Novel of the XII Century.
by Conrad von Bolanden
About the author
Born Joseph Eduard Konrad Bischoff on August 9, 1828, in Niedergailbach in the Palatinate, he was educated at Blieskastel, the seminary in Speyer, and the University of Munich. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1852 and served in the Diocese of Speyer, including as pastor in Kirchheimbolanden, from which he later drew his pen name.
As Conrad von Bolanden, he wrote novels and tales that mixed history, religion, and argument in a form meant for general readers. His books often pushed back against liberal and anti-Catholic trends of his time, and titles associated with him include A Wedding Trip, Queen Bertha, and stories centered on Frederick II.
He lived a long life that spanned major political and cultural changes in Germany and died in Speyer on May 30, 1920. Though less widely read today, he remains a notable example of the Catholic historical novelist whose fiction was closely tied to his beliefs and public role.