"Emanuel Schikaneder (1751-1812) is well known to opera lovers as the librettist of Mozart's The Magic Flute, and it was this collaboration that brought him a measure of immortality. Yet he was the most important theater director of his time, an actor, singer, producer, the founder of the famous Theater an der Wien, and a prolific dramatist. His works include magic farces, realistic popular plays, even precursors of surrealist drama. He was a fascinating personality who led a life full of adventure: he lived in a castle at the height of his powers, but died in misery and madness in a tiny room in Vienna. This compelling story of Schikaneder's life also sheds light on the historical, sociological, and theatrical developments of his time."--Book jacket.