Gottschall, Rudolf von (1823–1909)

German dramatist, poet, and critic. Among his dramas are the historical comedy Pitt und Fox 1854, the tragedy Mazeppa 1859, and Katharina Howard 1872. In two epic poems, Die Göttin 1853 and Carlo Zeno 1854, he largely abandoned the exaggerated style of his earlier writing. He wrote several novels and Die deutsche Nationalliteratur des 19. Jahrhunderts (seventh edition 1901–02), in which he advocated the cause of ‘modern ideas’ in literature.

Gottschall was born in Breslau. His sympathy with the revolutionary movement of 1848 produced the early tragedies Die Marseillaise 1849, Wiener Immortellen 1848, and Ferdinand von Schill 1850; the first poems, Gedichte 1849, and the lyric Die Göttin. His novels include Im Banne des schwarzen Adlers 1876, Das goldene Kalb 1880, Die Papierprinzessin 1883, and Die Tochter Rubezahls 1889.

He also edited two Leipzig journals, Blätter für literarische Unterhaltung 1864–88 and the review Unsere Zeit.