Christoph von Schmid

Christoph von Schmid (1768 to 1854) was a Bavarian Catholic priest, schoolmaster and writer of children's stories whose books were translated into many languages and are often regarded as pioneering literature for young readers. Ordained in 1791, he served as an assistant in several parishes and in 1796 was placed at the head of a large school in Thannhausen, where he taught for many years. He began writing there, first a Bible history for children in 1801, originally so that he could reward his pupils by reading to them after school. His best known work in the English-speaking world is The Basket of Flowers, and his other juvenile works include The Easter Eggs and a collection of tales for children and their friends. His stories usually turn on a disturbance to the happiness of good people that God's righteousness finally mends, the aim being to awaken a practical piety in young readers. He later served as parish priest at Oberstadion and as a canon of Augsburg Cathedral, and he published an autobiography.