FRIEDRICH DE LA MOTTE FOUQUÉ

Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué (1777–1843) was a German writer of the romantic style. Although not originally intended for a military career, Fouqué gave up his university studies at Halle to join the army; however, the rest of his life was largely devoted to literary pursuits.

His trilogy of plays—The Hero of the North (1910), which included Sigurd the Dragon Slayer, Sigurd’s Revenge, and Aslauga—was the first modern German dramatisation of the Nibelung legend. The trilogy brought Fouqué to the attention of the public, and had a considerable influence on subsequent versions of the story, such as Richard Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelung.

Fouqué’s subsequent literary activity was divided between his interests of medieval chivalry and northern mythology. Between 1810 and 1815, Fouqué’s popularity was at its peak, during which time Undine, the best known of Fouqué’s considerable body of work, appeared. Fouqué has influenced many authors, including Robert Louis Stevenson, and his works are referred to in those such as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and Jo’s Boys.

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