In 1807, the Schumann family settles in Zwickau, in Saxony. The father of Robert, enthusiastic reader, devotes himself to the literature. He devotes himself to the translation of works of the English literature, primarily Byron and W. Scott.
Although not meeting any success as a writer, the father of Schumann continues to write with enthusiasm of the stories of knights. Later it will associate his son with his work and it is in the family bookshop that Robert will discover the German literary romanticism.
As of his younger childhood, Robert shows exceptional gifts for the music, but soon, still more for the literature. He receives his first lessons of music, of a rather poor organist named Kuntsch, which does not detect in the young musician any particular genius.
In 1819, it attends Karlsbad with a concert given by the pianist Moscheles virtuoso. It will be the musical shock of its childhood.
With its return he asks his father to offer a piano to him. From now on it is with its instrument that he will entrust most readily. He is nine years old hardly and he amuses his entourage by making with the piano portraits and caricatures. Very quickly his father seems to guess in him, more than simple facilities.
Nevertheless, Robert remains attracted by the literature and it founds a literary company where the children of its age can exchange between traditional and romantic.
At twelve years, it composes a psalm for song and orchestra. With the college where it is pointed out for its musical talent, it quickly founds a small orchestra with his classmates. It is at that time that he discovers Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.
For Schumann, as for very romantic, to engage in art means “to create”. Between poetry and music, a choice is essential now on him. Little by little it is contained and become melancholic person.
For this reason undoubtedly, his father asks Weber to accept his son for pupil. By learning the refusal from the composer, Schumann will be deeply affected. The following year, in 1826, his Emilie sister commits suicide in an access of madness and his father dies a few months later.
With the death of his father, Robert loses his friend expensive and the only person on whom it could count without condition, the only one which could understand it and to support it.
At this point in time he devotes himself to morbid presentiments. Its improvisations with the piano, in general full with spirit and cheerfulness tears off sobs to him. On this date, also, it starts to hold its diary.
Far from finding a comfort in the reading of Jean Paul, his preferred poet, Schumann finds an echo with its torments. It tries to write two novels which will remain unfinished but feels in spite of very intended to continue a literary career.
“What I am really, I do not know it myself. If I am poet - because no one cannot become it, - the destiny will decide one day of it. ”