Hacklander

Hacklander, Friedrich Wilhelm (1816-1877), the Dickens of Germany, was born near Aachen. He was in early life engaged in trade, but also saw some service in the Prussian army. The latter experience he turned to account in his Tales of Soldier-life in Time of Peace (1841), and its sequel. In 1841 he went with Baron von Tubenheim to the East, and two years later accompanied the Crown Prince of Wurtemberg on a European tour. In 1847, after serving with Radetzky in the Sardinian war, he wrote Soldier-life in Time of War. Soon after this he married and settled at Stuttgardt. He wrote several comedies (Der Geheime Agent, etc.), but made his reputation chiefly by his Humorous Tales, and his novels Handel und Wandel (Ups and Downs, translated by Mary Howitt), The New Don Quixote, The Dark Hour, Lay and Night, and Zig-zag Stories. He was for five years director of the royal buildings and gardens, and was ennobled in 1861 by the Emperor of Austria.