Johann Karl August Musäus

Born in Jena on 29 March 1735, the only son of Joseph Christoph Musäus, a judge. In 1743 his father became a councillor and police magistrate in Eisenach, and the young Musäus moved to live with his godfather and uncle Dr. Johann Weißenborn in Allstedt, who was entrusted with his education and treated Musäus like a son. He continued living with his uncle until he was nineteen years old, even when his uncle became general superintendent of Eisenach in 1744, a move which brought him to the same city as his parents again.[1][2] Musäus entered the University of Jena in 1754 to study theology (probably the choice of his godfather rather than his own), and was admitted into German Society around this time, a sign of more than ordinary merit. He received a Master's degree after the usual three and a half years of study, to add to the degree he had received honoris causa ten years earlier on 13 July 1747, and returned to Eisenach to wait for an appointment in the Church, which he was now licensed for. Despite preaching well, he was not especially devoted to religion, and received no appointment; when after several years he was offered a vacancy as pastor in the nearby countryside, the locals objected on the grounds that "he had once been seen dancing". This finished his hopes of a career in the church, and at the age of twenty-five he became an author of satire. From 1760 to 1762, Musäus published in three volumes his first work, Grandison der Zweite (Grandison the Second), afterwards (in 1781–1782) rewritten and issued with a new title, Der deutsche Grandison (The German Grandison). The object of this book was to satirize Samuel Richardson's hero Sir Charles Grandison, who had many sentimental admirers in the Holy Roman Empire.[3] In 1763 Musäus was made tutor of the court pages in Weimar, and in 1769 he became professor of Ancient Languages and History at the Wilhelm-Ernst-Gymnasium in Weimar.[4] He became a Freemason in July 1776 at the "Amalia" lodge in Weimar, and became a member of the Bavarian Illuminati in August 1783, taking the names "Priscillianus" and "Dante Alighieri", and becoming presbyter that year.[5] Musäus was an amateur actor, and introduced his nephew August von Kotzebue to the theatre,[6] as well as acting alongside Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in the latter's early verse comedy Die Mitschuldigen (1777).[7] Due to his sociable nature, he was held in high regard in Weimar.[8] His second book, Physiognomische Reisen, did not appear until 1778/79. It was directed against Lavater, and attracted much favorable attention. From 1782 to 1787, he published his best work, Volksmärchen der Deutschen, a collection of German fairy tales. Even in this series of tales, the substance of which Musäus collected among the people, he could not refrain from satire. The stories, therefore, lack the simplicity of genuine folk-lore. In 1785, was issued Freund Heins Erscheinungen in Holbeins Manier by Johann Rudolph Schellenberg, with explanations in prose and verse by Musäus. He was prevented from completing a collection of stories entitled Straussfedern (though one volume was published in 1787) by his death on 28 October 1787, aged 52, in Weimar, where he is buried in the Jacobsfriedhof.

The authorities additionally record the headings John August Musæus and John August Musaeus. His recorded language was German. He was the child of Johann Christoph Musäus. He married Juliane Musäus. One child is recorded: Carl Musäus. Other recorded relations include August von Kotzebue and Karoline Ludecus.

Johann Karl August Musäus is recorded with the occupation collector of fairy tales. Recorded with the occupation children's writer. Recorded with the occupation literary critic. Recorded as writer, literary critic, poet, collector of fairy tales and pedagogue. Career and activity. Musäus worked in literary activity, fairy tale, literary criticism and young adult literature. He belonged to Illuminati.