Wilbrandt was born in
Rostock. His father was a professor at the
University of Rostock. He received early education in his native town, and then entered the university and engaged in the study of
law. He soon abandoned law in favour of
philology and
history, and continued these studies in
Berlin and
Munich. After taking the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy, he joined the staff of the
Süddeutsche Zeitung in Munich. He travelled abroad for a time and in 1871 he settled in
Vienna, where, two years later, he married the actress,
Auguste Baudius. In 1881, Wilbrandt was appointed director of the Hofburg theatre in succession to
Franz von Dingelstedt, an office he held until 1887. In this year he returned to his native town, and remained actively engaged in literary production. He died in Rostock on 10 June 1911. Wilbrandt is distinguished both as a dramatist and novelist. His merits were acknowledged by the award of the
Franz Grillparzer Prize on two occasions—in 1895 for the tragedy
Gracchus der Volkstribun, and in 1890 for his dramatic poem
Der Meister von Palmyra, while in 1878 he received the
Schiller Prize for his dramatic productions. ==Works==