Joseph Victor von Scheffel

Born in Karlsruhe in 1826, Joseph Victor von Scheffel studied law, but literature became the work he was remembered for. He rose to fame in the 1850s with Der Trompeter von Säckingen, a humorous narrative poem, and Ekkehard, a historical novel set in medieval Germany.

His writing mixed storytelling, sentiment, wit, and a strong feeling for history, which made him one of the most widely read German authors of his era. Although tastes changed over time, his books remained closely tied to the literary life of 19th-century Germany.

Scheffel died in 1886. Today he is chiefly remembered as a major popular author of his time, especially for the lasting success of Der Trompeter von Säckingen and Ekkehard.