Diefenbach, Heinrich

Writer, Editor

Born: 22.08.1871 in Massenheim

Died: 08.04.1918 in Wiesbaden

As the son of a craftsman and small farmer who died young, Diefenbach took every opportunity to practise his written expression during his school years and later as a day laborer in agriculture. His village school teacher and the parish priest recognized his talent and recommended him to the editors of the Wiesbadener Tagblatt (WT) as a supplier of short stories.

Editor-in-chief Walter Schulte vom Brühl took him on, had him trained and finally hired Diefenbach as a permanent editor. From 1908-18, he was responsible for editing the volumes of the "Altnassauischer Kalender" and was editor of the WT supplement "Der Landbote". Diefenbach wrote essays on local history for the supplement "Alt-Nassau".

With titles such as "Die Scholle", "Dingskirchener Geschichten" and "Des Bauern Tagewerk", Diefenbach was also successful as a novelist. His short stories and works, which are rooted in his rural origins and were popular reads in his day, are characterized by his cozy storytelling.

Diefenbach was buried in the North Cemetery.