author
Jacob Feis
1842–1900
A German-born writer, translator, and merchant who spent many years in London, he is best remembered for bringing English literature into German and for his unusual study of Shakespeare and Montaigne. His work sits at an interesting crossroads of literary criticism, translation, and 19th-century cultural exchange.
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About the author
Born in Deidesheim on July 10, 1842, Jacob Feis was a German writer and translator who later made his home in London, where he died on July 7, 1900. Sources describe him as both an author and a merchant, suggesting a life that balanced business with serious literary interests.
Feis devoted much of his writing life to translating English literature into German. Reference works note that he translated pieces by Alfred Tennyson, including In Memoriam and Oenone, as well as selections from John Ruskin, helping German readers engage with major English voices of the period.
He is also known for his English-language critical study Shakespeare and Montaigne—later also printed as Shakspere and Montaigne—which explored possible connections between Montaigne's ideas and the character of Hamlet. That mix of translation, criticism, and cross-cultural curiosity makes his work especially appealing to readers interested in how literature travels between languages and traditions.