The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Bechstein, Ludwig

BECHSTEIN, Ludwig, lood'vĭ, German poet and novelist: b. 1801; d. 1860. He is chiefly remembered for &lsquo;The Legend Treasure and the Legendary Cycles of Thuringia&rsquo; (1835-38); &lsquo;German Fairy-Tale Book&rsquo; (1845, 41st ed., 1893); and others. Among his epical poems are &lsquo;The Children of Haymon&rsquo; (1830); &lsquo;The Dance of Death&rsquo; (1831); &lsquo;New Natural History of Pet Birds&rsquo; (1846), a humorous didactic poem; and &lsquo;Thuringia's Royal House&rsquo; (1865).

Of his numerous novels, chiefly historical, the best known is &lsquo;Journeys of a Musician&rsquo; (1836-37).