Kotzebue

Kotzebue, August Friedrich Ferdinand von (1761-1819), a German dramatist born at Weimar. He showed much literary precocity, and produced various kinds of writings at an early age. He entered the Russian service, and from 1814-16 was Russian Consul-General at Konigsberg. His dramatic pieces, 200 in all, were published in 44 volumes (1827-29), and show much merit and artistic skill. He ridiculed the romantic school, and his leanings were towards absolutism, as is shown by his Vom Adel (1792), and these views eventually led to his being killed by a student at Mannheim.