About
August Wilhelm von Schlegel (1767-1845) was a German writer, literary critic, translator, and orientalist. With his brother Friedrich, he co-founded the journal Athenäum (1798-1800), the central organ of early German Romanticism. His verse translation of Shakespeare's plays (1797-1810) is considered a masterpiece of the genre. His lectures on dramatic art (1809-1811) influenced European criticism. A pioneer of comparative literature and Sanskrit studies, he edited the Bhagavadgita and the Ramayana. He taught at the University of Bonn from 1818.
* 1767-09-08 — † 1845-05-12
Major works
- Athenäum (1798-1800)journal
- Shakespeare's dramatische Werke (1797-1810)translation
- Über dramatische Kunst und Literatur (1809-1811)lectures
- Spanisches Theater (1803-1809)translation
- Bhagavadgītā (1823)critical edition
Key milestones
- 1798Co-founds the journal Athenäum with his brother Friedrich.
- 1804-1817Travels and works in the circle of Madame de Staël.
- 1818Becomes professor of literature at the University of Bonn.
Themes
RomanticismLiterary translationDramatic criticismComparative literatureOrientalism
Sources: plato.stanford.edu · britannica.com