Editing Heinrich Zschokke

{{Short description|German, later Swiss, author and reformer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Zschokke.jpg|thumb|Heinrich Zschokke.]]
'''Johann Heinrich Daniel Zschokke''' (22 March 1771{{snd}}27 June 1848) was a German, later Swiss, author and reformer.  Most of his life was spent, and most of his reputation earned, in [[Switzerland during the Napoleonic era|Switzerland]].  He had an extensive civil service career, and wrote histories, fiction and other works which were widely known.

==Biography==

===Youth and early career in Prussia===
Born in [[Magdeburg]], [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]], he was educated at the monasterial ({{Lang|de|Kloster}}) school and at the Altstädter [[gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]] there. He ran away from school at 17,<ref name="nie">{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Zschokke, Heinrich|year=1905}}</ref> and spent some time as playwright with a company of traveling actors. Later, he studied philosophy, [[theology]] and history at the [[Viadrina European University|University of Frankfurt (Oder)]], where in 1792 he established himself as a [[privatdozent]] (associate professor or lecturer).<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Zschokke, Johann Heinrich Daniel |volume=28|page=1046}}</ref>

While a privatdozent, Zschokke created a sensation by publishing the extravagant novel, {{Lang|de|Abällino, der grosse Bandit}} (Abaellino, the great bandit, 1793; subsequently also dramatized), modelled on [[Friedrich Schiller|Schiller]]'s {{Lang|de|[[Die Räuber]]}}, and the melodramatic tragedy {{Lang|de|Julius von Sassen}} (1796).<ref name="EB1911"/>

===Move to Switzerland===
The Prussian government declined to make him a full professor, and in 1796 Zschokke settled in [[Switzerland]], where he ran an educational institution in the castle of [[Reichenau, Switzerland|Reichenau]]. The authorities of [[Graubünden]] granted him citizenship, and in 1798 he published his {{Lang|de|Geschichte des Freistaates der drei Bünde im hohen Rätien (Rhaetia)}}. The [[Helvetic Republic|political disturbances]] of this year compelled him to close his institution.<ref name="EB1911"/>

===Civil service===
He was, however, sent as a deputy to [[Aarau]], where he was appointed president of the educational department. Soon afterward, the Helvetic executive directory sent him as government commissioner to [[Unterwalden]] for the purpose of restoring tranquility.<ref name="americana">{{Cite Americana|wstitle=Zschokke, Johann Heinrich Daniel}}</ref> His authority was ultimately extended over the cantons of [[Canton of Uri|Uri]], [[Schwyz]] and [[Canton of Zug|Zug]]. Zschokke distinguished himself by the vigour of his administration and by the enthusiasm with which he devoted himself to the interests of the poorer classes of the community. In 1800, he reorganized the institutions of the Italian cantons and was appointed lieutenant-governor of the canton of [[Basel]].<ref name="EB1911"/>

Zschokke retired from public life when the central government at [[Bern]] proposed to re-establish the federal system, but after the changes effected by [[Napoleon]] he entered the service of the canton of [[Aargau]], with which he remained connected.<ref name="EB1911"/>

===Writings===
While Zschokke appeared as one of the most distinguished and energetic public men in Switzerland, he still found time to cultivate his favorite literary pursuits, and it is chiefly by his numerous writings, historical and fictitious, that he became known to the world at large.<ref name="americana"/> In 1801, he attracted attention by his {{Lang|de|Geschichte vom Kampfe und Untergange der schweizerischen Berg- und Wald-Kantone}}. Through his popular {{Lang|de|Schweizerbote}} (Swiss Messenger),<ref name="americana"/> the publication of which began in 1804, he exercised a wholesome influence on public affairs; and the like may be said of his {{Lang|de|Miscellen für die neueste Weltkunde}}, issued from 1807 to 1813. In 1811 he also started a monthly periodical, the {{Lang|de|Erheiterungen}}. In addition to his 1801 work, he wrote various other historical works, among which are {{Lang|de|Ueberlieferungen zur Geschichte unserer Zeit}} (Contributions to the history of our time, 1811–27) and {{Lang|de|Des Schweizerlandes Geschichte für das Schweizervolk}} (History of Switzerland for the Swiss people, 1822, 8th ed. 1849).<ref name="EB1911"/>

Zschokke's tales, on which his literary reputation rests, are collected in several series, {{Lang|de|Bilder aus der Schweiz}} (Pictures from Switzerland, 5 vols., 1824–25), {{Lang|de|Ausgewählte Novellen und Dichtungen}} (16 vols., 1838–39). The best known are:
{{Lang|de|Addrich im Moos}} (1794), {{Lang|de|Der Freihof von Aarau}} (1794), {{Lang|de|Alamontade}} (1802), {{Lang|de|Jonathan Frock}}, {{Lang|de|Clementine}}, {{Lang|de|Der Creole}} (1830), {{Lang|de|Das Goldmacherdorf}} (The goldmakers' village, 1817), and {{Lang|de|Meister Jordan}} (1845).<ref name="EB1911"/>

In {{Lang|de|Stunden der Andacht}} (Hours of devotion, 1809–1816; 27 editions in Zschokke's lifetime), which was widely read, he expounded in a rationalistic spirit the fundamental principles of religion and morality. {{Lang|de|Eine Selbstschau}} (1842) is a kind of autobiography.<ref name="EB1911"/>

According to the [[Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition|1911 ''Encyclopædia Britannica'']], "Zschokke was not a great original writer, but he secured an eminent place in the literature of his time by his enthusiasm for modern ideas in politics and religion, by the sound, practical judgment displayed in his works, and by the energy and lucidity of his style."<ref name="EB1911"/>

An edition of Zschokke's selected works, in forty volumes, was issued in 1824–28. In 1851–54 an edition in thirty-five volumes was published. A new edition of the {{Lang|de|Novellen}} was published by A. Vögtlin in twelve volumes (1904).<ref name="EB1911"/>

===Later life===
In his later years, Zschokke traveled regularly to [[Überlingen|Überlingen am Bodensee]] to enjoy the waters at the city's spa;<ref>Alfons Semler, ''Überlingen: Bilder aus der Geschichte einer kleine Reichsstadt'', Singen, 1949, p. 173.</ref> he died at his country house of Blumenhalde on the [[Aar]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* J. Keller-Zschokke, ''Beiträge zur politischen Thätigkeit Zschokkes'' (Aarau, 1887)
* R. Wernly, ''Vater Heinrich Zschokke'' (Aarau, 1894)
* M. Schneiderreit, ''Zschokke, seine Weltanschauung und Lebensweisheit'' (1904)
In addition to Wernly's work, there are biographies of Zschokke by E. Münch (1831), Emil Zschokke (3rd ed. 1876), and R. Sauerländer (Aarau, 1884).
* Werner Ort, ''Heinrich Zschokke 1771–1848. Eine Biografie'' (Baden: Hier und Jetzt, 2013). {{ISBN|978-3-03919-273-1}}

==External links==
* {{Gutenberg author |id=5011| name=Heinrich Zschokke}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Heinrich Zschokke}}
* {{Librivox author |id=1913}}
* {{Cite Nuttall|title=Zschokke, Johann Heinrich |short=x}}
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Zschokke, Johann Heinrich Daniel |short=x}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zschokke, Heinrich}}
[[Category:1771 births]]
[[Category:1848 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Magdeburg]]
[[Category:People from the Duchy of Magdeburg]]
[[Category:European University Viadrina alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of European University Viadrina]]
[[Category:German male writers]]
[[Category:Writers from the Kingdom of Prussia]]
[[Category:Emigrants from the Kingdom of Prussia]]
[[Category:Immigrants to Switzerland]]
[[Category:German social reformers]]