Kaspar Hauser

by Kitchen, Martin

"The case of Kaspar Hauser, the most famous incidence of 'feral man' in the nineteenth century, was used by insensitive charlatans and frustrated radicals for their own often dubious purposes. He thus remains a many-faceted figure, invested with the attributes that observers afforded him. He was prince and swindler, innocent or vain, honest or mendacious, ruined by a corrupt society or inherently wicked, the victim of monstrous crimes or a publicity-seeking egotist. This is not only an exciting story, involving intrigue in high places, secret agents and murder, but it also provides an opportunity to examine current notions about childhood, education and medicine, and offers many insights into the social, political and intellectual life of Biedermeier Germany."--Jacket.