Introduction

Friedrich Schiller wrote Love and Intrigue (Kabale und Liebe) in 1782 after having fled from his native Württemberg, and completed it in early 1784. It was ready for the first stage performance in Mannheim on 13 April 1784. Duke Karl August, the ruler of Württemberg, had not appreciated Schiller’s talent and was more interested in his services as an army surgeon. Schiller had escaped across the border to the more congenial Mannheim, where he was to see the first two of his plays, The Robbers .