JOHANN KARL

AUGUST

See also:

• JOHANN KARL AUGUST MUSAUS (1735-1787)

MUSAUS (1735-1787)  , German author, was born on the 29th of March 1735 at Jena, studied theology at the university, and would have become the pastor of a parish but for the resistance of some peasants, who objected that he had been known to dance . In 176o to 1762 he published in three volumes his first work, Grandison der Zweite, afterwards (in 1781–1782) rewritten and issued with a new title, Der deutsche Grandison . The object of this book was to satirize Samuel Richardson's hero, who had many sentimental admirers in Germany . In 1763 Musaus was made master of the court pages at Weimar, and in 1769 he became professor at the Weimar gymnasium . His second book—Physiognomische Reisen—did not appear until 1778–1779 . It was directed against Lavater, and attracted much favourable attention . In 1782 to 1786 he published his best work Volksmarchen der Dents-then . Even in this series of tales, the substance of which Musaus collected among the people, he could not refrain from satire . The stories, therefore, lack the simplicity of genuine folk-lore . In 1785 was issued Freund Heins Erscheinungen in Holbeins Manic?. by J . R . Schellenberg, with explanations in prose and verse by Musaus .

A collection of stories entitled Straussfedern, of which a

volume appeared in 1787, Musaus was prevented from completing by his death on the 28th of October 1787 . The Volksmarchen have been frequently reprinted (Dusseldorf, 1903, &c.) . They were translated into French in 1844, and three of the stories are included in Carlyle's German Romance (1827) ; Musaus's Nach elassene Scriften were edited by his relative, A. von Kotzebue (1791 . See M . Muller, J . K . A . Musaus (1867), and an essay by A . Stern in Beitrage zur Literaturgeschichte des z8 . Jahrhunderts (1893) .