Conrad von Bolanden

Conrad von Bolanden (9 August 1828 – 30 May 1920), born Joseph Eduard Konrad Bischoff, was a German prelate and novelist in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Speyer, who wrote A Wedding Trip, Queen Bertha and Historical Tales of Frederick II.

Now Niedergailbach belongs to the Saarland, although the main portion of the Palatinate (region) became a part of the neighbour-state Rheinland-Pfalz.

Bolanden attended the Latin school at Blieskastel, the seminary at Speyer, and in 1849 entered the University of Munich to study theology.

[1] In 1870 the priest resigned his parish to devote himself exclusively to literary work, and lived in strict retirement at Speyer.

These include: The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia describes his novels, written in a simple style for a popular audience, as "not all of equal worth", but praises their conception, Bolanden's defense of Catholic positions, and his frequent quotations from original sources.

Conrad von Bolanden, private photo in civil dress (as a novelist he had a dispensation from wearing priestly garb) 1894, with his signature
Conrad von Bolanden, one of his last photos, taken 1919, published in "Der Christliche Pilger", Diocesan Paper of Speyer, 1935