Renter Fritz

Renter, Fritz (1810-74), German humorist, was the son of a burgomaster, and studied at Rustock and Jena Universities, joining one of the numerous student societies then in existence. When these were proclaimed by Metternich in 1833 he was arrested and sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment, of which term he actually served seven. On his release he took to farming, and then taught gymnastics. He published his first volume of humorous poems in 1853; they were written in Low German dialect, and became very popular. A second speedily followed, and his enormous success placed him in the front rank of the humorists of this century. In 1859 the first of his Old Camomile series of tales, which are among his best productions, appeared, and in 1862 My Prison Life. In 1863 he settled at Eisenach, and died there in 1874, in which year his Life appeared.