Dictionary.net

A distinguished German critic and philologist, son of J. A.; born at Hanover, March 10, 1772; died at Dresden, Jan. 12, 1829. He first devoted himself to the study of Greek antiquity, and in 1794 published his great essay "On the Schools of Grecian Poetry"; following it with many others of a like tenor, as "The Greeks and Romans" (1797), and "History of Greek and Roman Poetry" (1798). In his "Fragments" (1798-1800) he essayed to establish the theory of a new romanticism; in the mean time writing the unfinished romance "Lucinda", and a volume of "Poems". To this period also belongs his tragedy "Alarcos", in which he unsuccessfully sought to combine romantic and classic elements. His work "Language and Wisdom of the Indians" (1808) was a valuable contribution to the science of language. Among his other writings are lectures on "Modern History" (1811); "History of Ancient and Modern Literature" (1815); "Philosophy of Life".