Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 6. Young Germany

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brandes, Georg, 1842-1927

Contributor:

Morison, Mary

White, Diana

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Other Title:

Main Currents in 19th Century Literature - 6. Young Germany

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 6. Young Germany" by Georg Brandes is a historical and literary analysis written in the early 20th century. This volume examines the literary movement known as Young Germany and its context within the socio-political landscape of the 19th century, focusing particularly on the reactionary political climate following the Napoleonic Wars and the influence of revolutionary movements. The work reflects on key literary figures and the role of literature as a vehicle for political and societal critique during a time of unrest and emerging nationalism in Germany. The opening of the book situates the Young Germany movement against the backdrop of significant political repression following the Napoleonic Wars, particularly under figures like Metternich, who sought to quell revolutionary sentiment. Brandes describes the disappointment among the German youth who had hoped for unification and freedom but faced a harsh reality of reactionary politics. Notable individuals such as Ludwig Börne and Heinrich Heine emerge as voices of resistance against this oppression, employing their literary works to advocate for freedom and national identity. The early chapters emphasize the bleak state of German society and the yearning for political liberty, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of how literature intersected with the cultural and political currents of the time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

The political background

Philosophy and reaction

Spirit of the opposition

Influence of the Revolution of July

Influence of Byron

Value of the new literature

Börne

Heine

Heine and goethe

Literature and party

Immermann

Hegelianism

Young Germany and Menzel

Gutzkow, Laube, Mundt

Rahel, Bettina, Charlotte Stieglitz

Frederick William IV. of Prussia

The neutral literature

Political poetry, philosophical revolution

Revolutionary poetry

The revolution

Conclusion.

Credits:

Produced by Jens Guld and Marc D'Hooghe (Images generously made available by the Internet Archive.)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 54.9 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2015-01-22