MEYER, KONRAD FERDINAND ( 1825-98). A Swiss poet and historical novelist. The little volume of historical Ballade» (Leipzig, 1867), by which he first attracted attention, is halting in expression, as are the verses of li07111111Zelt end Bildcr (Leipzig. 1870). More plasticity appears in linticits letzte Mgr (Leipzig, 1871), and in Eage/bcrg (Leipzig, both narrative poems. Meyer then turned his attention from verse to prose, still remaining faithful to historical themes, and produced six striking epic narra tives, which, though they require in the reader too wide a culture to he popular, are an enduring part of German novelistic literature. These are: Jiirq Jcnotselt (1876) : Der Heilige (1880) ; Leiden cines Knaben (18S3); Die floehzcit des .11dnehs (1884) ; Die Icrsuchung des Pescara ( 1887) ; and Angela Borgia ( 1891) . Meantime he had written a remarkable group of historical short stories. first collected as Kieine Norc//en,
(1883) and later as Norellcii (13th ed. 1899). Characteristic and perhaps best of these is Gus tar Adolfs Page. His early poems are incor porated, with many changes, almost always for the better, in Gedichte (1882). Meyer's literary characteristics, which combine to make him the most important imaginative writer in Switzer land in his generation. are truthfulness of observation. a realistic plasticity in description, clearness of style, objectivity in statement. A uniform edition of Meyer's works appeared in 1892. For his biography, consult Trop. (Basel, 1897) and Frey (Stuttgart, 1900). Also Moser, ll'andlungen der Gediehtc K. F. Meyers (Leipzig, 1900) ; and Kraeger, K. F. Meyer, mind Wandlungen seiner GMichte (Berlin, 1901).