Heinrich Laube
Heinrich Laube was a prominent German author and playwright born in 1806, known for his politically charged works and contributions to theater. After studying theology, Laube began his literary career by publishing romances and later shifted focus to political essays while living in Leipzig. His first novel, *Das Poeten*, released in 1883, marked the beginning of his trilogy *Das junge Europa*, which critiqued the German government and led to his persecution. Laube faced imprisonment twice in the 1830s due to his inflammatory writings, underscoring the contentious relationship between his literary expression and the political climate of the time.
In addition to his novels, Laube made significant contributions to drama, with his first play, *Monaldeschi*, published in 1845. His role as artistic director of the Hofburg Theatre in Vienna from 1849 to 1867 allowed him to produce many notable works, including *Graf Essex* and *Montrose*, and complete his historical trilogy *Der deutsche Krieg*. Following his retirement from the Stadttheater in Vienna in 1872, Laube continued to write, leaving behind a legacy of over fifty works, including memoirs reflecting on his life and career. He passed away in Vienna in 1884, remembered as a prolific figure in German literature.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Heinrich Laube
Author
- Born: September 18, 1806
- Birthplace: Sprottau, Silesia, Germany (now Szprotawa, Poland)
- Died: August 1, 1884
- Place of death: Vienna, Austria
Biography
German author Heinrich Laube was born in 1806. After studying theology and publishing romances in several journals, he settled in Leipzig and began writing political essays. In 1883, he released his politically charged first novel, Das Poeten, the first volume in his trilogy, Das junge Europa. Laube’s railings against the German government led to police persecution, which included the confiscation of his work. In 1834, he spent nine months imprisoned in Berlin. Laube was not charged with a crime but was incarcerated due to his inflammatory literature. Two years later he again became a political prisoner, serving another year for his political agitation.
In 1839, Laube began writing plays, the first of which, Monaldeschi, was published in 1845. This was followed by publication of another play in 1846, and three others in 1847. In 1849, Laube became the artistic director of the Hofburg Theatre in Vienna, Austria, a position he held until 1867. During this period he produced some of his greatest works, including his plays Graf Essex and Montrose. He also completed Der deutsche Krieg, his notable trilogy of historical novels about the Thirty Years’ War.
In 1872, Laube directed the Stadttheater, a theater in Vienna, and remained in this position until his retirement in 1880. Laube continued writing after his retirement and produced several more works before his death, including his two-volume memoir, Erinnerungen, 1810-1840, and Erinnerungen, 1841- 1882. Laube died in Vienna in 1884. An extremely prolific author, he produced more than fifty books, including collections of his plays, novels, novellas, and political discourses.