ROSEGGER, PETER. - Austrian writer, born at Alpl (Styria) on 31 July 1843, died at Krieglach (Styria) on 26 June 1918.
A wandering tailor, then a writer. Influenced by Anzengruber and Stifter, Rosegger began with lyrics and tales in Styrian dialect. The success of his folkloristic descriptions of his native region (*Die Älpler*, 1872) led him to write popular tales with pedagogical tendencies (*Die Schriften des Waldschulmeisters*, 1875). The principal themes of his numerous novels, tales and popular dramas—some of historical content—are the struggle between industrialization and peasants (*Jakob der Letzte*, 1888), culture and nature (*Martin der Mann*, 1891), town and country (*Erdsegen*, 1900), and the Tyrolean liberation war (*Peter Mayr, der Wirt an der Mahr*, 1893). Rosegger’s pedagogical ethos later concentrated on pious works and religious renewal without strict confessional ties (*Mein Himmelsreich*, 1901; *INRI – Frohe Botschaft eines armen Sünders*, 1904). His piety, sense of humour, love of nature and of his homeland helped to spread, especially throughout the entire German-speaking world, his autobiographical writings (*Waldheimat*, 1877; *Mein Weltleben*, 1898).