INTRODUCTION. FREDERICK THE GREAT, although not very fond of the German language, made the following prophecy in his "Littérature Allemande":"We shall have our classical authors; our neighbours will learn German; and it may happen that our language, polished and brought to perfection, will be extended, in favour of our good authors, from one end of Europe to the other." This, no doubt, has been fulfilled, especially since the Franco-German War; and on the twenty-fifth anniversary now legitimately celebrated by all faithful to the Fatherland, I have the honour of writing these lines as a short introduction to a book on German literature, which, I fairly trust, will contribute in no small degree to the further realisation of the Great Frederick's hope. Literature, in any case that literature with which we shall have to deal, and the language in which it is produced, have nothing to do with political controversy; they do not speak to one nation alone, but to all, whatever their nationality, who strive after true happiness by improving and enlarging their minds. It is, therefore, easy to understand that, even in France, the study of German has been greatly increased, and made a significant part of liberal education. The High Schools in Italy now devote a part of their curriculum to German, in addition to French and English, whilst a still greater development has taken place in this country. Whereas, some thirty years ago, Italian was required or preferred, it is now superseded by German as a branch of English education. The Civil Service Commissioners have made this language an optional, and in some cases an obligatory subject. Since July 1892, Papers on German literature have been set at the examinations for Army candidates. For girls and women this subject occupies an equally conspicuous position in the local and other examinations. Out of the host of books on German literature, a select list has been added to this new publication, which list, it is hoped, will be a guide to the advanced student in his further and independent reading, but not one of them could be recommended as a school-book. Those written in German, however excellent they may be, are out of the question, for the scanty time allotted to German in even the best English schools is so much absorbed by the learning of the language itself, that, to save time, the literature must be studied in English. I entertain all respect for the works of F. Metcalfe and I. T. Lublin, based on Vilmar and Kluge respectively, but, in these books, sufficient justice has not been done to the early and most modern periods. In the latter an index is wanting altogether; and, besides, the original works were written for educational purposes of the Fatherland, and they, therefore, show too many German tendencies. There is a book beyond praise, Mrs. F. C. Conybeare's translation of the "Geschichte der deutschen Litteratur by Wilhelm Scherer, one of the greatest authorities on the subject, and that this translation is edited by Professor Max Müller, is a sufficient guarantee of its excellence. But, forming two volumes of 826 pages together, it would not do as a school-book. The lives of Lessing, Heine, Schiller, and Goethe could not be better read than in the "German Classics," edited by Professor C. A. Buchheim, Ph.D., the “doyen" of German Masters in England, who, perhaps, has done more than anybody else for the propagation of German in the United Kingdom. The private tutor, who is frequently but unjustly called "crammer," always ready to provide for the most urgent needs, has quickly compiled a few pamphlets on German literature. They are, however, only lists of names and dates, and unfit for real educational culture. A book was needed corresponding to all the requirements of our days, and I have no hesitation in declaring that Miss Phillips has provided one that was a distinct "desideratum." If the Cambridge student reading for the modern languages tripos, or the teacher lecturing on the life of the author just set for the Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations, should not find this course sufficient, it may at least, in each of these cases, be useful as a preliminary to further study of the subject. The candidate who is compelled to commit to memory, just for the hard day of his examination, only a table of names and dates, will do better by a cursory reading of a work of moderate size, underlining or extracting what seems desirable. The young scholar, who, by his own choice—and I am sure he (or she) is not a rara avis—or by the regulations of his scholastic authorities, is bound to study German literature thoroughly, has not hitherto been provided with a book which he might steadily work through, as with his Cornwell in Geography, or Morris in History. At the request of the publishers, I have had the pleasure of looking over the proof-sheets of this volume, and of letting the author have any sugestions that might occur to me. It would, of course, have been impossible to carry out this task satisfactorily without taking great care and pains, and, but for the inexhaustible resources of the British Museum at my disposal, I should scarcely have undertaken the work. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." With this thought my work was commenced, but the further I got in the proof-sheets, the more pleasure they gave me. Having had much experience in teaching the German language and literature to English students, I became with every page more and more convinced that this was the book required. My efforts would be useful, and, therefore, the hunt after a correct title, date, quotation, or note, was joyfully pursued. I wanted to assure myself that there was nothing which I could not endorse, and to be able to declare the book reliable in every respect. Miss Phillips has very kindly accepted most of my suggestions for her book, which treats of the German Literature as far back as it can be traced at all, and down to the most modern poets and even novelists. A long and studious residence in Germany has enabled the author to characterise the Germans correctly, and to put forth some new ideas about their literature. In certain controversial cases, of course, those who do not profess to be specialists, have to take a side. Thus, concerning the famous Lachmann-Zarncke controversy about the Nibelungenlied, our author refers to and adopts the opinion of Wilhelm Scherer, whose book could not be left unread by any writer on German literature. The reader of this book will find it an advantage that it is not divided into chapters classified under the headings, for instance, of novel or philosophy, prose or poetry. The whole plan is chronological, and will form in the student's mind a clear picture of the development which he can easily attach to his history learned before. Last, not least, it has to be mentioned that the book is written without visible religious or political bias. Its 66 device, as that of a handbook of literature ought to be, is Truth," that idea of truth expressed in the three words in commemoration of Herder as the aim he had successfully striven after: "Licht, Liebe, Leben." It is a book that may be put in the hands of a student of any age, creed, or aspiration. Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, ALOYS WEISS. |