Freiherr von Ludwig Achim Arnim

Born in Berlin on January 26, 1781, Achim von Arnim became one of the key writers of German Romanticism. He is especially remembered for his poems, stories, and novels, as well as for his interest in folk culture and oral tradition.

Together with Clemens Brentano, he compiled Des Knaben Wunderhorn, a landmark collection of German folk songs that had a lasting influence on literature and music. Reference works also describe him as a dramatist and folklorist, reflecting how widely he worked across forms.

Arnim married Bettina Brentano, who later became known as Bettina von Arnim, and remained an important figure in the literary world around him. He died at Wiepersdorf on January 21, 1831, leaving behind writing that helped define the Romantic fascination with history, legend, and the voice of the people.