Gerstäcker, FRIEDRICH

Gerstäcker, FRIEDRICH, a German novelist and writer of travels, was born at Hamburg, 10th May 1816. Animated with an irrepressible impulse for travel, he in 1837 went to New York, and began a six years' tramp through the United States, part of the time working at various trades, part of the time leading an adventurous life as a hunter in the forests. In 1843 he returned to Germany, and published Streif- und Jagdzüge durch die Vereinigten Staaten (1844), Die Regulatoren in Arkansas (1845), Die Flusspiraten des Mississippi (1848), &c. Leaving home again in 1849, he travelled round the world by way of America, Polynesia, and Australia, reaching Germany in 1852. Most of the years 1860-61 were spent in South America; in 1862 he accompanied Duke Ernest of Gotha to Egypt and Abyssinia; and in 1867-68 he undertook another long journey, visiting North America, Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the West Indies. Of this last he gave a description in Neue Reisen (1868). His best books include Tahiti, Die Beiden Sträflinge, Unter dem Äquator, Gold, Inselwelt, and Um die Welt (1847-48). His Gesammelte Schriften appeared in 44 vols. in 1872-79. Gerstäcker died at Brunswick, 31st May 1872. His works, of which several have been translated into English since 1847, owe their popularity to their simple, homely style, and to the vigour and truth of the descriptions and characters.