August Koberstein


Karl August Koberstein was a German literary historian.

Biography

He studied at Stolpe and Potsdam, then at Berlin. He was appointed professor at Schulpforta, where he was actively engaged till his death.

Work

His literary career commenced with his work entitled Ueber das wahrscheinliche Alter und die Bedeutung des Gedichts vom Wartburgkrieg. He wrote, notably, Grundriss der Geschichte der deutschen National-literatur, which, in its fourth revision, became a comprehensive history of German national literature. This work was extended, after his death, in a fifth edition by Karl Bartsch. His other works include Vermischte Aufsätze zur Literaturgeschichte und Aesthetik, Heinrich von Kleists Briefe an seine Schwester Ulrike. He contributed to Löbell's Entwicklung der deutschen Poesie, the volume on Lessing.

Family

His son Karl Koberstein was a noted dramatist.