SCHEFFEL, JOSEPH VIKTOR VON German poet and novelist, was born at Karlsruhe on Feb. 16, 1826. He studied at Munich, Heidelberg and Berlin, entered the State judicial service, and for four years (1848-52) held an official position at Sackingen. Here he wrote his poem Der Trompeter von Siickingen (1853), a romantic and humorous tale which im mediately gained extraordinary popularity. It has reached more than 230 editions. In 1854 he quitted the Government service and settled at Heidelberg, with the intention of joining the teaching staff of the university. His studies were interrupted by eye-disease, and he went to live on the Lake of Constance. There he elaborated the plan of his famous historical romance Ekkehard (1857), the scene of which is laid in the monastery of St. Gall in the loth cen tury; (Eng. trans. by S. Delffs, Leipzig 1872). The first ideas for this work he got from the Monumenta Germaniae. In 1901 Ekke
hard had reached the 179th edition. Scheffel next returned to Heidelberg, and published Gaudeamus, Lieder aus dem Engeren and W eiteren (1868), a collection of joyous and humorous songs, the matter for which is taken partly from German legends, partly from historical subjects. Scheffel was custodian (1857-59) of the library of Prince Egon von FUrstenberg at Donaueschingen; he eventually settled at Karlsruhe, in which city he died on April 9, 1886.
ScheffePs Gesammelte Werke have been published in 6 vols. (19o7).
See A. Ruhemann, Joseph Victor von Scheffel (1887) ; G. Zernin, Erin nerungen an Joseph Victor von Scheffel (1887) ; J. Prolss, Scheffels Leben and Dichten (1887) ; L. von Kobell, Scheffel and seine Frau (19oI) ; E. Boerschel, J. V. von Scheffel und Emma Heim (1906).