Der Trompeter Von Säkkingen: Ein Sang Vom Oberrhein

Der Trompeter von Säkkingen was first published in 1853 by the German poet and novelist Joseph Viktor von Scheffel. It is a long-form verse narrative set in the 17th century during the Thirty Years' War, chronicling the romance between the trumpeter Werner Kirchhofer and Maria, the daughter of the Baron von Schönau. The work was written during a period of rising German romanticism and quickly became one of the most widely read books in the German-speaking world during the late 19th century.

The enduring popularity of the poem was significantly boosted by the 1884 opera adaptation by Viktor Nessler, which solidified the story as a staple of German cultural life. Scheffel’s lyrical style and the nostalgic, idealized depiction of the Black Forest region resonated deeply with contemporary readers, eventually leading to countless editions and decorative bindings. This particular volume reflects the legacy of a work that, while later criticized for its sentimentality, served as a quintessential example of mid-century German literary taste.