Literature, the Volk and the Revolution in Mid-nineteenth Century Germany

Download or read book Literature, the Volk and the Revolution in Mid-nineteenth Century Germany written by Michael Perraudin and published by Berghahn Books. This book was released on 2000 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Between the revolutions of 1830 and 1848, poverty reached new extremes in Germany, as in other European countries, and gave rise to a class of disaffected poor, leading to the widespread expectation of a social revolution. Whether welcomed or feared, it dominated private and public debate to a larger extent than is generally assumed as is shown in this study on the reflections in literature of what was called the "Social Question." Examining works by Heine, Eichendorff, Nestroy, Büchner, Grillparzer, and Theodor Storm, the author reveals an acute awareness of political issues in an era in literature which is often seen as tending to quiescence and withdrawal from public preoccupations.