The truth of realism : a reassessment of the German novel 1830-1900 / John Walker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Walker, John, 1956 January 14-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

German fiction--History and criticism--19th century.

German fiction.

Realism in literature.

Physical Description:

213 pages ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Legenda, 2011.

Summary:

Walker (German, Birbeck College, London) contends that the distinguishing capacity of German narrative realism, and the source of its contribution to the European tradition, is to show how the power of society works most effectively through its psychological representation in the consciousness of its members. This is pretty much the diametric opposite of the conventional view, he acknowledges, and sets about to defend it. His topics include Gottfried Keller's Der grune Heinrich, the end of inwardness in Willhelm Raabe's Pfisters Muhle, and the realism of history in Der Stechlin and Vor dem Sturm. Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contents:

1 Realism, the Narrative Self, and the Legacy of German Idealism 17

2 Representing the Real: Gottfried Keller's Der grüne Heinrich 32

3 Refusing the Real: Wilhelm Raabe's Der Hungerpastor 54

4 German Realism after 1870: Literature, Philosophy, and Human Selfhood 73

5 Wilhelm Raabe: Pfisters Miihle - The Reality of Inwardness 89

6 Wilhelm Raabe: Die Akten des Vogehangs - The End of Inwardness 109

7 Theodor Fontane: Effi Briest - Realism, Empathy, and Identity 125

8 Theodor Fontane: Irrungen, Wirrungen - Realism and Transfiguration 148

9 The Limited Whole: The Realism of History in Der Stechlin and Vor dem Sturm 168.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [204]-211) and index.

ISBN:

9781906540906

190654090X

OCLC:

535489706