Volksmärchen

work by Tieck

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July 15, 2026

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Ludwig Tieck's Volksmärchen (1797) is a collection of fairy tales that satirized the rationalism of the Enlightenment. Written under the pseudonym Peter Leberecht, this work includes one of Tieck's notable short novels, "Der blonde Eckbert" (Fair Eckbert), which explores themes of obsessive fear.1

Volksmärchen is characteristic of the early German Romantic movement, a period that explored mystical, subconscious, and supernatural themes. Tieck, a prominent figure in this movement, often infused his stories with a fairytale-like quality that appealed to emotions rather than intellect. The collection also features plays like "Ritter Blaubart" (Bluebeard) and "Der gestiefelte Kater" (Puss in Boots). The German Romantics were deeply interested in folk traditions, including fairy tales, seeing them as a way to access preconscious thought.213

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Ludwig Tieck
…18th-century Enlightenment were published in Volksmärchen (1797), under the pseudonym Peter Leberecht (“live right”). This collection includes one of Tieck’s best short novels, Der blonde Eckbert (“Fair Eckbert”), the fantastic story of an obsessive fear; this work won the praise of August and Friedrich von Schlegel, the leading critics of…
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…18th-century Enlightenment were published in Volksmärchen (1797), under the pseudonym Peter Leberecht (“live right”). This collection includes one of Tieck’s best short novels, Der blonde Eckbert (“Fair Eckbert”), the fantastic story of an obsessive fear; this work won the praise of August and Friedrich von Schlegel, the leading critics of…
Read More