Rückert, Friedrich (1788–1866)

German poet and orientalist. He wrote lyrical poems, such as Liebesfrühling 1844, and patriotic songs, of which Geharnischte Sonette appeared in Deutsche Gedichte 1814.

Rückert was born in Schweinfurt, Bavaria. A master of over 20 languages, he was professor of Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit at Erlangen, and then at Berlin. A translator of oriental poetry, he also wrote poems on oriental themes, as in Östliche Rosen 1822. His most elaborate work is Die Weisheit des Brahmanen/The Wisdom of the Brahmin 1836–39 (six volumes). Kindertotenlieder, written 1834 and published 1872, was inspired by the loss of his young son and daughter.