Heinrich Hoffmann (author) Heinrich Hoffmann (June 13, 1809 -
September 20, 1894) was a German psychiatrist, who also wrote
some short works including Der Struwwelpeter, an illustrated
book portraying children misbehaving. Early life and education
Hoffmann was born in Frankfurt on Main to an architect father,
Philipp Hoffmann, who was responsible for the city's streets and
waterways. Hoffmann's mother died when he was a baby. His father
later married his mother's sister, Antoinette Lausberg, who was
a loving and more than adequate mother to him. Lazy and easily
distracted, Hoffmann at first struggled at school, but became a
successful student after conforming to the strict discipline
imposed by his demanding father. At university in Heidelberg, he
immersed himself into the corps student culture. His zest for
dueling was small, but owing to his sociability, good humour and
wit, Hoffmann soon became the center of many social circles, a
pattern that would later repeat itself in his hometown. His
progress in his