Freiherr Joseph von Eichendorff (March 10, 1788 - November 26, 1857), German lyricist and narrator.

Eichendorff was born at Schloß Lubowitz near Ratibor, to Prussian officer Adolf Freiherr von Eichendorf and his wife, Karoline Freiin von Kloche, a family of catholic aristocracy. He studied law in Halle (1805-1806) and Heidelberg (1807-1808). In 1808 he travelled through Europe, visiting Paris and Vienna. In 1810, he returned home to help his father running the family manor. The same year, he met Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Achim von Arnim, Clemens Brentano and Heinrich von Kleist in Berlin. He finished his studies in Vienna in 1812. From 1813 to 1815, he fought in the Befreiungskriege.

In 1821, he became school inspector in Danzig, in 1824 Oberpräsidialrat in Königsberg. He moved with his family to Berlin in 1831, where he worked for several ministries, until he retired in 1844.

Eichendorff died 1857 in Neisse (Silesia).

• Note regarding personal names: Freiherr is a title, usually translated Baron, not a first or middle name.

Important works

• Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts
• Das Marmorbild
• Auch ich war in Arkadien
• Das Schloß Dürande
• Libertas und ihre Freier

External links

• Eichendorff texts (http://gutenberg.spiegel.de/autoren/eichndrf.htm) online at German Project Gutenberg