H. (Heinrich) Clauren

Born on March 20, 1771, in Dobrilugk in Lower Lusatia, Heinrich Clauren was the pen name of Johann Gottlieb Samuel Carl Heun. He studied in Leipzig and Göttingen, later worked in Berlin and in the Prussian civil service, and wrote fiction that was widely read during the early 1800s.

Clauren became known for romances, novellas, and light popular fiction, often published under his pseudonym. His work connected strongly with readers of his day, even if his reputation faded later, and his name now turns up most often in literary history rather than on modern bookshelves.

One reason he is still remembered is his tale Trilby, ou le lutin d'Argail, which became the basis for the ballet La Sylphide. That link gave his writing an afterlife in dance and theater, keeping a trace of his influence alive long after the peak of his literary fame.