C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Wolfram von Eschenbach (c. 1170–c. 1220)
Wolfram von Eschenbach (vōlfräm fon esh’en-bäċh). Next to Walther von der Vogelweide the greatest of Middle High German poets; died about 1220. He was poor and with a family, and could neither read nor write; but knew French and was of noble birth, which enabled him to frequent the court of Hermann of Thuringia. His chief works were three epic poems: ‘Parzival’ (about 1210), the greatest of German court epics; ‘Titurel’ (about 1210?), left unfinished; ‘Willehalm’ (begun before 1216), left unfinished; both afterward completed by other hands. He also composed lyrics, among which were four ‘Day Songs.’