Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Goethe, the king of German poetry, was born in Frankfurt in 1749. He was a multi-talented poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, and even acted as a diplomat. His work is regarded among some of the greatest poetry in the world and remains hugely influential today. Much of Goethe’s work was set to music by several German classical composers, including Beethoven and Wagner. His literary achievements granted him stardom among the aristocracy of Germany and beyond.

Friedrich Schiller

If Goethe is the king of German poetry, then Friedrich Schiller is at least the prince. Born just ten years after Goethe in Marbach am Neckar, Schiller didn’t live as long as his friend and colleague Johann. Their collaboration led to the literary period known as Weimar Classicism. One of Schiller’s most famous works is “An die Freude” (“Ode to Joy”), which formed the basis for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Like Goethe, Schiller’s poetry often found its way into the classical music world, with composers such as Schubert and Brahms setting multiple pieces to music.

Bertolt Brecht

Bertolt Brecht, born in Augsburg in 1896, was well-known for co-writing “The Threepenny Opera” alongside Kurt Weill. A staunch Marxist, Brecht lived in exile during Nazi rule in Germany. Upon his return after the war, he founded the Berliner Ensemble with his wife, Helene Weigel. Brecht wrote hundreds of poems heavily influenced by French poetry and folk ballads.

Hans-Ulrich Treichel

Hans-Ulrich Treichel is one of Germany’s great living poets, still contributing incredible work today. He taught at the German Literature Institute in Leipzig. Treichel came to prominence with his first novel “Der Verlorene” (“Lost”), and has since written a range of poems, prose, essays, and opera libretti. He earned a doctorate in 1983 after studying philology, philosophy, and political science at the Free University of Berlin.

Lisel Mueller

The late Lisel Mueller, who passed away in 2020, left behind a remarkable literary legacy. The German-born American poet won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1997, making her the only German-born poet to be awarded the prize so far. Born in Hamburg in 1924, her family emigrated to the United States due to political persecution during the Nazi regime. Mueller lived in the U.S. until her death, leaving a profound impact on American and German literature alike.