HIRSCHFELD, Georg, German dramatist and novelist: K Berlin,. 11 Feb. 1873. He be longed to the Naturalistic School and during his early career he was hailed by some as a second Hauptmann, He followed closely in the foot steps of Holz and Schlaf, their influence being clearly evident in his dramatic style. He studied in Munich, and while there his first production, a one-act drama, 'Zu Hause> (1894), was staged, which is a portrayal of life in Berlin, W. The play which first made Hirschfeld well known was 'Die Mutter' (1896), which was produced for the first time by the Freie Biihne in 1895 in Berlin, where Hirschfeld had now come to reside. It proved a success and was then staged by Brahm in the Deutsches Theatre. This is the work by which Hirschfeld is chiefly known. His later dramas are 'Agnes Jordan> (1898), a variation of the theme of 'Die Mutter'; the romantic drama 'Der Weg Zum Licht' (1902); the servant's comedy 'Paul ine,' a counterpart to Hauptmann's the artist's comedy 'Der junge Goldner, and one other drama called 'Nebeneinander.' At one
time in Hirschfeld's career great things were expected of him as a novelist also. 'Damon Kleist' was the first of his stories. It, was published in Die Freie Biihne in 1894. He had the same admiration for the poetic struggles of Kleist that many other literary men had for Byron. Hirschfeld's mystical genius made a better success of the story 'Der Bergs& (1896). It might be described as the attempt of a naturalist to do homage to symbolistic art. Another story 'Requiem' (1906) completes the list of his novels. His last accessible Works are two comedies and und Maria.' His works are generally Characterized by sentimentality and a dreamy poetic longing for beauty and in art. He is still writing and it is impossible as yet to form a definitive judgment of the value of his works. Consult Dr. Adalbert von Han stein, 'Das Jiingste Deutschland' ; Soergel, A., 'Dichtung und Dichter der Zeit.'