Johann Heinrich Daniel Zschokke (22 March 177127 June 1848) was a German, later Swiss, author and reformer. Most of his life was spent, and most of his reputation earned, in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. He had an extensive civil service career, and wrote histories, fiction and other works which were widely known.

Biography

Youth and early career in Prussia

Born in Magdeburg,

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was '' de facto'' dissolved by an ...

, he was educated at the monasterial (Kloster) school and at the Altstädter Gymnasium there. He ran away from school at 17, and spent some time as playwright with a company of strolling actors. Later, he studied philosophy,

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing t ...

and history at the University of Frankfurt (Oder), where in 1792 he established himself as a

Privatdozent ''Privatdozent'' (for men) or ''Privatdozentin'' (for women), abbreviated PD, P.D. or Priv.-Doz., is an academic title conferred at some European universities, especially in German-speaking countries, to someone who holds certain formal qualific ...

. While a Privatdozent, Zschokke created a sensation by publishing the extravagant novel, ''Abällino, der grosse Bandit'' (1793; subsequently also dramatized), modelled on

Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (, short: ; 10 November 17599 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, and philosopher. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller developed a productive, if complicated, friends ...

's ''

Die Räuber ''The Robbers'' (', ) is the first drama by German playwright Friedrich Schiller. The play was published in 1781 and premiered on 13 January 1782 in Mannheim, Germany, and was inspired by Leisewitz' earlier play '' Julius of Taranto''. It was ...

'', and the melodramatic tragedy ''Julius von Sassen'' (1796).

Move to Switzerland

The Prussian government declined to make him a full professor, and in 1796 Zschokke settled in

, where he conducted an educational institution in the castle of Reichenau. The authorities of Graubünden granted him citizenship, and in 1798 he published his ''Geschichte des Freistaates der drei Bünde im hohen Rätien (Rhaetia)''. The political disturbances of this year compelled him to close his institution.

Civil service

He was, however, sent as a deputy to

Aarau Aarau (, ) is a town, a municipality, and the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. The town is also the capital of the district of Aarau. It is German-speaking and predominantly Protestant. Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in th ...

, where he was appointed president of the educational department. Soon afterward, the Helvetic executive directory sent him as government commissioner to

Unterwalden Unterwalden, translated from the Latin ''inter silvas''(''between the forests''), is the old name of a forest-canton of the Old Swiss Confederacy in central Switzerland, south of Lake Lucerne, consisting of two valleys or '' Talschaften'', now ...

for the purpose of restoring tranquility. His authority was ultimately extended over the cantons of

Uri Uri may refer to: Places * Canton of Uri, a canton in Switzerland * Úri, a village and commune in Hungary * Uri, Iran, a village in East Azerbaijan Province * Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, a town in India * Uri (island), an island off Malakula Isla ...

Schwyz The town of Schwyz (; french: Schwytz; it, Svitto) is the capital of the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland. The Federal Charter of 1291 or ''Bundesbrief'', the charter that eventually led to the foundation of Switzerland, can be seen at the ' ...

and Zug. Zschokke distinguished himself by the vigour of his administration and by the enthusiasm with which he devoted himself to the interests of the poorer classes of the community. In 1800, he reorganized the institutions of the Italian cantons and was appointed lieutenant-governor of the canton of

Basel Basel ( , ), also known as Basle ( ),french: Bâle ; it, Basilea ; rm, label= Sutsilvan, Basileia; other rm, Basilea . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine. Basel is Switzerland's third-most-populous city (after Zürich a ...

. Zschokke retired from public life when the central government at

Bern german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

proposed to re-establish the federal system, but after the changes effected by

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...

he entered the service of the canton of

Aargau Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capit ...

, with which he remained connected.

Writings

While Zschokke appeared as one of the most distinguished and energetic public men in Switzerland, he still found time to cultivate his favorite literary pursuits, and it is chiefly by his numerous writings, historical and fictitious, that he became known to the world at large. In 1801, he attracted attention by his ''Geschichte vom Kampfe und Untergange der schweizerischen Berg- und Wald-Kantone''. Through his popular ''Schweizerbote'' (Swiss Messenger), the publication of which began in 1804, he exercised a wholesome influence on public affairs; and the like may be said of his ''Miscellen für die neueste Weltkunde'', issued from 1807 to 1813. In 1811 he also started a monthly periodical, the ''Erheiterungen''. In addition to his 1801 work, he wrote various other historical works, among which are ''Ueberlieferungen zur Geschichte unserer Zeit'' (Contributions to the History of Our Time, 1811–27) and ''Des Schweizerlandes Geschichte für das Schweizervolk'' (History of Switzerland for the Swiss People, 1822, 8th ed. 1849). Zschokke's tales, on which his literary reputation rests, are collected in several series, ''Bilder aus der Schweiz'' (Pictures from Switzerland, 5 vols., 1824–25), ''Ausgewählte Novellen und Dichtungen'' (16 vols., 1838–39). The best known are: ''Addrich im Moos'' (1794), ''Der Freihof von Aarau'' (1794), ''Alamontade'' (1802), ''Jonathan Frock'', ''Clementine'', ''Der Creole'' (1830), ''Das Goldmacherdorf'' (The Goldmakers' Village, 1817), and ''Meister Jordan'' (1845). In ''Stunden der Andacht'' (Hours of Devotion, 1809–1816; 27 editions in Zschokke's lifetime), which was widely read, he expounded in a rationalistic spirit the fundamental principles of religion and morality. ''Eine Selbstschau'' (1842) is a kind of autobiography. According to the 1911 ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', "Zschokke was not a great original writer, but he secured an eminent place in the literature of his time by his enthusiasm for modern ideas in politics and religion, by the sound, practical judgment displayed in his works, and by the energy and lucidity of his style." An edition of Zschokke's selected works, in forty volumes, was issued in 1824–28. In 1851–54 an edition in thirty-five volumes was published. A new edition of the ''Novellen'' was published by A. Vögtlin in twelve volumes (1904).

Later life

In his later years, Zschokke traveled regularly to Überlingen am Bodensee to enjoy the waters at the city's spa;Alfons Semler, ''Überlingen: Bilder aus der Geschichte einer kleine Reichsstadt'', Singen, 1949, p. 173. he died at his country house of Blumenhalde on the Aar.

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zschokke, Heinrich 1771 births 1848 deaths Writers from Magdeburg People from the Duchy of Magdeburg European University Viadrina alumni European University Viadrina faculty German male writers German emigrants to Switzerland