Lichtenstein: The Knight Who Defied an Empire is a historical adventure novel adapted for classroom use from Wilhelm Hauff's 1826 German classic. Set in early sixteenth-century Germany during the exile and restoration of Duke Ulrich of W�rttemberg, the novel follows the young knight Georg von Sturmfeder as he confronts a moral conflict between obedience to authority and loyalty to conscience.
Living under foreign rule imposed by the Holy Roman Empire and the Swabian League, Georg is drawn into a dangerous struggle shaped by political intrigue, personal loyalty, and the enduring ideals of chivalry. Guided by his devotion to the Lady of Lichtenstein and his belief in honor as a lived commitment rather than a title, Georg must decide what justice demands when law and morality no longer align.
Designed for Grades 7-12, this YA Classroom Edition presents the story in clear, modern English while preserving the tone, structure, and historical character of the original text. The novel reflects a world in transition, where medieval social customs and chivalric values continued to shape daily life within an emerging early modern political order.
This edition includes historical and cultural notes that provide context on early modern Germany, the Holy Roman Empire, and the ethical codes governing noble life. Suitable for whole-class study, literature circles, or independent reading, Lichtenstein facilitates instruction in historical fiction, character development, theme analysis, and discussions of moral choice across time.
This Classroom Edition is supported by instructional materials aligned with the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (CCSS ELA), including close reading, textual analysis, evidence-based discussion, and analytical and narrative writing for Grades 7-12.
Arden, Rowan: - Rowan Arden is a writer, translator, and editor dedicated to reviving forgotten voices of European literature for modern readers. With a background in languages and the humanities, Arden spent much of his early career teaching young minds. He brings to each work a careful balance of fidelity and clarity-preserving the author's voice while making the text accessible to contemporary audiences. In Lichtenstein: The Knight Who Defied an Empire, Arden offers a fresh English rendering of Wilhelm Hauff's 1826 classic, restoring its historical richness and moral depth through clear, modern prose. This is Book 1 of the Chivalry Crossroads series, introducing a broad effort to present timeless stories of courage, love, and conscience to new generations of readers.
Hauff, Wilhelm: - Wilhelm Hauff (1802-1827) was one of Germany's most gifted early Romantic writers-a storyteller whose brief life produced an enduring legacy. Born in Stuttgart, he studied theology and philosophy at the University of Tübingen before turning to literature. In just a few prolific years, Hauff wrote novels, fairy tales, and travel romances that combined imagination with moral reflection. His works, including The Caravan, The Little Muck, and The Cold Heart, became classics of German storytelling, blending folk motifs with emotional depth and poetic style. Published in 1826, Lichtenstein was his first and only historical novel, inspired by his native Württemberg's medieval past and its ideals of chivalry, loyalty, and faith. Hauff died the following year at only twenty-four, but his writings secured him a lasting place among the masters of German Romantic prose.
