Reviews : German Studies

Abstract

One might be forgiven for suppressing a groan on reading the title of this work -Fontane, women and humanity, surely old hat? The study itself pleasantly disappoints the reader's expectations. The first third is devoted to a wellinformed discussion of current thinking on realism in literature, not dry theory, but an account laced with well-chosen quotations and lively argument. Frei also considers contemporary reception of Fontane's works, bringing out the significance of late nineteenth-century views of literature and society and pointing up Fontane's position as an unconventional thinker in a conventionridden milieu. He examines carefully Fontane's concept of realism, distinguishing between 'Wirklichkeit' (reality) and 'Wahrheit' (truth). He points out, as others have before, that the human being is the novelist's central concern, and other aspects of reality are only of interest in so far as they impinge upon man and shape his life. H. Ohl has pursued a similar argument with regard to the role of natural settings in the works. The background milieu which Fontane represents is seen in terms of the scope for development and selfrealization it affords or withholds from individual characters. To this extent, in terms of the development of the essential human qualities of naturalness, human warmth and openness to the world, political reality is an important issue, for it in turn influences social behaviour. Frei traces in precise terms the nature of Fontane's criticism of his milieu. For example, he refers to &dquo;die Unmenge der Klagen Fontanes uber die markische Enge und die Unentwickeltheit Berlins wahrend der 50er und 60er Jahre. Dem Beobachtungsdrang, 'ganz besonders' auf 'das Gesellschaftliche' gerichtet, entsprach die preuf3ische Nuchternheit und