Today Wilhelm Hauff is not considered a major writer. When he is remembered, it is principally for his romantic historical novel Lichtenstein: Romantische Sage aus der würtembergischen Geschichte (Lichtenstein: Romantic Saga from the History of Württemberg, 1826; translated as The Banished: A Swabian Historical Tale, 1839) and for the picturesque castle near Reutlingen in his native Württemberg that the novel inspired. He is also known for his Märchen (fairy tales), which have retained their charm as fascinating and realistic stories set in his own world. Hauff's talent lay in his versatility, his ability to perceive the interests and moods of the reading public. In a society that valued conformity, Hauff followed literary convention; he was a "Modedichter" (fashionable writer), and a gifted one. In light of the critical enthusiasm for Hauff's writing which persisted through the middle of the nineteenth century, it...