The Resume

(March 21, 1763-November 14, 1825)
Born in Wunsiedel, Germany
Birth name was Johann Paul Friedrich Richter
Novelist and humorist
Novels include 'The Invisible Lodge' (1793), 'Hesperus' (1795), 'Flower, Fruit and Thorn Pieces,' 'Life of QUintus Fixlein' (both 1796), 'Titan' (1800 - 03), 'Dr. Katzenberger’s Journey to the Spa' and Army Chaplain Schmelzle’s Journey to Flatz' (both 1809)

Why he might be annoying:

He went by a pretentious single name (just 'Jean Paul').
He said: 'The long sleep of death closes our scars, and the short sleep of life our wounds' (morbid).
He was unpopular amongst his contemporaries (Goethe and Schiller both disliked his literary style).
Schiller specifically said he might have been worthy of admiration 'if he had made as good use of his riches as other men made of their poverty.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a lifelong defender of freedom of the press and crtiticised censorship.
He took the name Jean Paul when he was 29, out of admiration for Jean Jacques Rousseau.
He blended biting satire and sentimentality in his writings.
Over thirty of his works have been set to music.
Thomas Carlyle and Margaret Fuller were among his enthusiasts.
His only son, Max, died of typhus.
He died alone and nearly blind.
He originated the literary motif of the Doppelganger (or the lookalike/double of the protagonist).

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• BoyWiththeGreenHair’s Profiles [Series 16]
• Children's Book Authors
• I Died in Debt
• I Inspired a Musical
• I Outlived My Child
• Known By a Single Name
• Look at me, I'm Busted
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Powdered Wig Wearers
• Profiles 47501-47750 (Ranked: 47542)
• Satirists and Wits
• Visually Impaired

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying