Intrigued all his life by the idea of the bellum omnium contra omnes (war of all against all)--he read Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan (1651)--Wilhelm Heinse has often been called a typical writer of the Sturm und Drang movement. While his reputation as an individualist and sensualist, as well as the fact that most of his major works were written and published during the Sturm und Drang period, may justify such an opinion, Heinse defies classification and remains an enigma to critics and literary historians. Struggling against bigotry and limitations of his freedom, Heinse led a relatively quiet life dominated by fiscal difficulties and social inadequacy. He was neither noteworthy as a scholar nor successful in his profession. As a writer, however, he enjoyed the respect and, in some instances, the admiration of his contemporaries, as well as the reputation of a controversial figure, an interesting author with a...