Schiller's Poems - The First Period

In 1781 Friedrich Schiller's "The Robbers" (Die Räuber) was published and it signaled the start of Schiller's first period of his works (1781 - 1785). Fittingly, the first two poems of this collection were originally introduced in this play. It is also noteworthy that the poems were first published in an anthology (now a literary rarity) together with poems by some of his contemporaries. They contain amongst other things the beautiful and impassioned "Laura Poems" as well as the dramatic sketch "Semele". All of these poems give an excellent insight into Schiller's early - Sturm und Drang - lyrical beginnings.