KAPPER, SIEGFRIED:

Austrian poet and physician; born at Smichow near Prague, March 21, 1821; died at Pisa June 7, 1879; educated at the gymnasium and University of Prague, and at the University of Vienna (Ph.D. 1847). Starting in life as a physician, he later embraced a literary career.

Kapper's more important works are: "Slavische Melodien," Leipsic, 1844; "České Listy," Prague, 1846; "Befreite Lieder dem Jungen Oesterreich," Vienna, 1848; "Lazar der Serbenzar," ib. 1851; "Die Gesänge der Serben" (in two parts), ib. 1852; "Fürst Lazar," Leipsic, 1853; "Falk," Dessau, 1853; "Südslavische Wanderungen," 2 vols., Leipsic, 1853; "Christen und Türken," 2 parts, ib. 1854; "Die Böhmischen Bäder," ib. 1857; "Die Handschriften Altböhmischer Poesien," Prague, 1859. In his "Geneda" (printed 1846) Kapper pictured early Jewish life in Prague. His "Wanderlied für Israelitische Handwerker" and a number of his lyrical poems were set to music by Solomon Sulzer and Josef Dessauer.

Bibliography:
  • Wurzbach, Biog. Lexikon, 1863, x. 453-454;
  • Jüdisches Athenäum, 1851;
  • Journal des Débats, March 11, 1853;
  • Brümmer, Lexicon der Deutschen Dichter und Prosaisten des 19. Jahrhunderts, p. 401.
S. I. G. D.
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