Theodor Fontane

Theodor Fontane
Theodor Fontane (1819–1898) was a prominent German novelist and poet, widely regarded as a leading figure of 19th-century German realism. He is best known for his social novels, particularly "Effi Briest," which explores the constraints of Prussian society. Fontane's works often delve into themes of societal norms, personal freedom, and the complexities of human relationships. In addition to his novels, he wrote travel literature, poetry, and historical essays, leaving a significant impact on German literature.

Author's Books:


The fact that newspaper reporters commonly call their articles "stories" points to a certain analogy between the novel and the newspaper. Even when prose fiction aims to be a fine art, it readily takes on a journalistic character; it is usually designed for immediate effect--at the concomitant risk of producing no other--and it easily passes from hand to hand or from country to country. In our... more...

THE LIFE OF GUSTAV FREYTAG By ERNEST F. HENDERSON, PH.D., L.H.D. Author of A History of Germany in the Middle Ages; A Short History ofGermany, etc. It is difficult to assign to Gustav Freytag his exact niche in the hall of fame, because of his many-sidedness. He wrote one novel of which the statement has been made by an eminent French critic that no book in the German language, with the exception of... more...