Karl August von Heigel (March 25, 1835 - September 6, 1905), German novelist, was born, the son of a régisseur or stage-manager of the court theatre in Munich.
In this city he received his early schooling and studied (1854-1858) philosophy at the university. He was then appointed librarian to Prince Heinrich zu Carolath-Beuthen in Lower Silesia, and accompanied the nephew of the prince on travels.
In 1863 be settled in Berlin, where from 1865 to 1875 he was engaged in journalism. He next resided at Munich, employed in literary work for the king, Ludwig II, who in 1881 conferred upon him a title of nobility. On the death of the king in 1886 he removed to Riva on the Lago di Garda, where he died on the 6th of September 1905.
Karl von Heigel attained some popularity with his novels:
- Wohin? (1873)
- Die Dame ohne Herz (1873)
- Das Geheimnis des Konigs (1891)
- Der Roman einer Stadt (1898)
- Der Maharadschah (1900)
- Die nervose Frau (1900)
- Die neuen Heiligen (1901)
- Bromels Gluck und Ende (1902)
He also wrote some plays, notably Josephine Bonaparte (1892) and Die Zarin (1883); and several collections of short stories, Neue Erzählungen (1876), Neueste Novellen (1878), and Heitere Erzählungen (1893).