He was a Protestant pastor, professor of philosophy, and from 1798 a Swiss civil official. A versatile and prolific writer, influenced by Pestalozzi’s philanthropic ideas and himself influencing the popular pedagogical trends of Gotthelf and Hebel, Z. successfully edited edifying periodicals for the people, including the important weekly *Stunden der Andacht* (1809–16), often reprinted in book form with Catholic or Protestant imprint. His adventure, social, and historical novels were continued, translated, imitated, and in part dramatized, giving strong impetus to the historical novel in the manner of Scott and to the regional novel with folkloric setting. Noteworthy is his rivalry with Kleist and others over the literary elaboration of a rural scene depicted in an engraving (story *Der zerbrochene Krug*, 1813).
ZSCHOKKE, HEINRICH
BIBL.: Ges. Schriften, 2nd ed., Aarau 1856–59; Rolf Zschokke, Über H. Z.'s Geschichtsauffassung, ibid. 1928; W. Hartmann, H. Z.'s Stunden der Andacht, Gütersloh 1932.