Although Heinrich Zschokke has become little more than a footnote to the history of German literature, he was one of the best-known and most prolific authors of his day and forged a career over his long lifetime that bears more than a superficial resemblance to that of his great contemporary Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Like Goethe, Zschokke showed precocious learning ability; found early fame as a best-selling author; had a love for and practical experience in the theater; served with distinction as a minister of state; and attained stature as a serious scientist whose publications earned him the respect of the scientific community. Unlike Goethe, however, Zschokke was not considered a "Dichter" (major poet) by his contemporaries; instead, he was regarded as a "Schriftsteller" (popular and prolific author). It is a judgment with which Zschokke, a modest and fair-minded man, would have concurred; had he designated a legacy...