Schiller was educated at a military academy, but took an early interest in poetry and drama. His play, The Robbers (1781) brought him to prominence, but at the same time brought him into conflict with the Duke of Wurttemburg and led to his fleeing to Mannheim where he became the house dramatist at the National Theatre. Here he wrote the plays Kabale und Liebe (1784) and Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien (1787). In 1794, he met Goethe in Weimar which marked a turning point in Schiller's career. With Goethe's help, he secured a professorship of history at the University of Jena, and from this point turned his talents to historical drama. Perhaps his greatest drama, Wallenstein, was produced in 1799 and was followed by Maria Stuart (1800), Die Jungfrau von Orleans (1801), Die Braut von Messina (1803) and his popular play Wilhelm Tell (1804). Schiller also wrote numerous historical and philosophical works including Revolt in the Netherlands (1788) and The Thirty Years War (1789-93). His output of poetry, ballads, essays and hymns was prodigious. |
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