WILHELM

JORDAN (1819–1904)  , German poet and novelist, was born at Insterburg in East Prussia on the 8th of February 1819 . He studied, first theology and then philosophy and natural science, at the universities of Konigsberg and Berlin . He settled in Leipzig as a journalist; but the democratic views expressed in some essays and the volumes of poems Gcocke and Kanone (1481) and Irdische Phantasien (1842) led to his expulsion from Saxony in 1846 . He next engaged in literary and tutorial work in Bremen, and on the outbreak of the revolution, in February 1848, was sent to Paris, as correspondent of the Bremer Zeitung . He almost immediately, however, returned to Germany and, throwing himself into the political fray in Berlin, was elected member for Freienwalde, in the first German parliament at Frankfort-on-Main . For a short while he sided with the Left, but soon joined the party of von Gagern . On a vote having been passed for the establishment of a German navy, he was appointed secretary of the committee to deal with the whole question, and was subsequently made ministerial councillor (Ministerialrat) in the naval department of the government . The naval project was abandoned, Jordan was pensioned ann afterwards resided at Frankfort-on-Main until his death on the 25th of June 1904, devoting himself to literary work, acting as his own. publisher, and producing numerous poems, novels. dranas and translations . among his best known works are: Demiurgos (3 vols., 1852–1854), a " Mysterium," in which he attempted to dea with the problems of human existence, but the work found little favour; Nibelunge, an epic poem in alliterative verse, in two parts, (1) Sigfriedsage (1867–1868; 13th ed . 1889) and (2) Hildebrants Heimkehr (1874; loth ed . 1892)--in the first part he is regarded as having been remarkably successful; a tragedy, Die Wittwe des Agis (1858); the comedies, Die Liebesleugner (1855) and Durchs Ohr (187o; 6th ed . 1885); and the novels Die Sebalds (1885) and Zwei Wiegen (1887) .

Jordan also published numerous translations, notably Homers Odyssee (1876; 2nd ed . 1889) and Homers Ilias (1881; 2nd ed . 1894); Die

Edda (1889) . He was also distinguished as a reciter, and on a visit to the United States in 1871 read extracts from his works before large audiences .