Overview

This is the first book in English on the German playwright Johannes Schlaf (1862-1941), whose involvement in 'consistent realism' and modern theatre in the 1890s provides an insight into the origins and development of German naturalist drama. Schlaf's main contributions to this movement were with Die Familie Selicke (1890), on which he collaborated with Arno Holz, and Meister Oelze (1892), works which show his innovative talents. The author considers these works in the context of the experimental prose sketches which Schlaf worked on with Holz after 1888, and of the realist and naturalist dramas of Hebbel, Ibsen, Hauptmann, and Sudermann; he brings out their growing concern with trapped women and victimised children, as well as their critical focus on the problems of traditional poetry.

Full Product Details

9781571131072

Table of Contents

Reviews

'This first book in English on Johannes Schlaf admirably fulfills Whitinger's objective to employ the German author and some of his little-known texts as a focal point for the consideration of naturalism in a broad context.' GERMAN QUARTERLY 'For scholars of modern drama, or for anyone teaching German drama ... Whitinger's study will provide both background knowledge and ideas for future research.' SAR 'Masterful study...' GERMANIC NOTES & REVIEWS To be welcomed as an important contribution to a more general reassessment of the achievement of Naturalist drama.' MODERN LANGUAGE REVIEW 'Through careful and nuanced analyses, the author offers convincing readings that uncover Schlaf's desire to link his characters' words, deeds, and fates to the dynamic discussions about feminism, socialism, and homosexual emancipation taking place in Wilhelmine Germany.' MONATSHEFTE

This first book in English on Johannes Schlaf admirably fulfills Whitinger's objective to employ the German author and some of his little-known texts as a focal point for the consideration of naturalism in a broad context. * GERMAN QUARTERLY * For scholars of modern drama, or for anyone teaching German drama ... Whitinger's study will provide both background knowledge and ideas for future research. * SAR * Masterful study. * GERMANIC NOTES & REVIEWS * To be welcomed as an important contribution to a more general reassessment of the achievement of Naturalist drama.' MODERN LANGUAGE REVIEW 'Through careful and nuanced analyses, the author offers convincing readings that uncover Schlaf's desire to link his characters' words, deeds, and fates to the dynamic discussions about feminism, socialism, and homosexual emancipation taking place in Wilhelmine Germany. * MONATSHEFTE *

'This first book in English on Johannes Schlaf admirably fulfills Whitinger's objective to employ the German author and some of his little-known texts as a focal point for the consideration of naturalism in a broad context.' GERMAN QUARTERLY'For scholars of modern drama, or for anyone teaching German drama ... Whitinger's study will provide both background knowledge and ideas for future research.' SAR 'Masterful study...' GERMANIC NOTES & REVIEWS To be welcomed as an important contribution to a more general reassessment of the achievement of Naturalist drama.' MODERN LANGUAGE REVIEW 'Through careful and nuanced analyses, the author offers convincing readings that uncover Schlaf's desire to link his characters' words, deeds, and fates to the dynamic discussions about feminism, socialism, and homosexual emancipation taking place in Wilhelmine Germany.' MONATSHEFTE

Author Information

RALEIGH WHITINGER is emeritus professor of German at the University of Alberta. He has published widely on Theodor Storm, Lou Andreas-Salomé, Goethe, Kleist, and German naturalism. From 2002 to 2011, he edited Seminar: A Journal of Germanic Studies. His translation of Andreas-Salome's novella collection, Menschenkinder, was published as The Human Family in 2005 (University of Nebraska).

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