Claudius, Matthias
Claudius, Matthias
(pseudonyms included Asmus and Wandsbecker Bote). Born Aug. 15, 1740, in Reinfeld; died Jan. 21, 1815, in Hamburg. German poet and publicist, close to the Sturm und Drang poets.
Claudius published the newspaper Der Wandsbecker Bote (1771–75), to which such writers as J. W. Goethe and J. G. Herder contributed. Using a popular style, Claudius exposed feudal vices but condemned the Great French Revolution. Claudius’ lyrical songs are permeated by the spirit of folk poetry.