BOERNE, KARL LUDWIG (1786-1837), German politi cal writer and satirist, was born on May 6, 1786, at Frankfort-on Main, where his father, Jakob Baruch, carried on the business of a banker. After wasting some years as a medical student, he turned to political science and took his doctor's degree at Giessen in 1811. Frankfort was at this time constituted as a grand duchy, and Boerne was appointed police actuary there; but old conditions were restored in 1815 and, as a Jew, he was dismissed from his office. Embittered by the oppression under which the Jews suf fered in Germany, he engaged in journalism, and edited the Frank fort liberal newspapers, Staatsristretto and Die Zeitschwingen. In 1818 he became a convert to Lutheran Protestantism, changing his name from Loeb Baruch to Ludwig Boerne, in order to im prove his social standing. From 1818 to 1821 he edited Die Wage, but the paper was suppressed by the police, and in 1821 he abandoned journalism for a time and led a retired life in Paris, Hamburg and Frankfort. After the July Revolution (183o), Boerne hurried to Paris, expecting to find the newly-constituted state of society somewhat in accordance with his ideas of freedom. Although to some extent disappointed in his hopes, he was not disposed to look any more kindly on the political condition of Germany; this lent additional zest to the brilliant satirical letters (Briefe aus Paris, which he began to publish in his last literary venture, La Balance, a revival under its French name of Die Wage. The Briefe aus Paris was his most important publica tion, and a landmark in the history of German journalism. Its appearance led him to be regarded as one of the leaders of the new literary party of "Young Germany." Boerne's works are remarkable for brilliancy of style and for a thorough French vein of satire. His best criticism is to be found in his Denkrede ant Jean Paul (1826), his Dramaturgische Blotter (1829 34), and the witty satire, Menzel der Franzasenfresser (1837). He also wrote a number of short stories and sketches, of which the best known are the Monographie der deutschen Postschnecke (5829) and Der Essk unstler (1822).
BIBLIOGRAPHY.-The first edition of his Gesammelte Schriften apBibliography.-The first edition of his Gesammelte Schriften ap- peared at Hamburg (1829-34) in 14 volumes, followed by 6 volumes of Nachgelassene Schriften (Mannheim, ; more complete is the edition in 12 volumes (Hamburg, 1862-63) , reprinted in 1868 and subsequently. The latest complete edition is that edited by A. Klaar (8 vols., Leipzig, 1900) . For further biographical matter see M. Holz mann, L. Borne, sein Leben and sein Wirken (Berlin, 1888) ; Bornes Briefe an Henriette Herz (18o27), first published in 1861, have been re-edited by L. Geiger (Oldenburg, 1905), who has also published Boerne's Berliner Briefe (1828) (Berlin, 19o5). See also Heine's witty attack on Boerne (Werke, ed. Elster, vii.), and the chapters in G. Brandes, Hovedstromninger i det rgde Aarhundredes Litteratur vol. vi. (Copenhagen, 189o, German trans. 1891. English trans. 19o5) .