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Adelbert von Chamisso (1781–1838)
Chamisso, Adelbert von (shä-mēs’sō). A German lyrist; born at the castle of Boncourt, Champagne, Jan. 30, 1781; died at Berlin, Aug. 21, 1838. His love of poetry brought him into intimate association with many kindred spirits, as Varnhagen von Ense, Theremin, Hitzig, and La Motte Fouqué. He made a voyage of circumnavigation as a naturalist on a Russian ship, 1815–18. The first of his poetical compositions were published (1804) in ‘The Muses’ Almanac.’ By far his most celebrated work is ‘Peter Schlemihl,’ a tale of a man who lost his shadow. In association with Gaudy he translated some of Béranger’s ‘Songs.’ (See Critical and Biographical Introduction).