In Kaspar Hauser (1812-1833), a significant crystallization point in modern human history occurs. During a time of immense societal and interpersonal upheaval, a being appears in Nuremberg at Pentecost 1828 as if from nowhere, profoundly questioning the true identity of humanity. The questions of "Who am I?" as well as the mysteries of birth and death are exemplified in him with striking clarity. Indeed, even the questioned identity of man is alarmingly evident in him. This work gathers literary writings and lectures on Kaspar Hauser from the years 2012 to 2017 and forms the first volume of the writings from the Kaspar Hauser Research Circle, which Eckart Böhmer founded in collaboration with the Karl König Institute for Art, Science, and Social Life in the autumn of 2016.