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NOTICES OP BOOKS* 281
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FOREIGN LITERATTJEE. Deutsche JLiebe, au...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Notices Op Books* 281
NOTICES OP BOOKS * 281
Foreign Literattjee. Deutsche Jliebe, Au...
FOREIGN LITERATTJEE . Deutsche JLiebe , aus den JPapieren eines Fremdlings *
A book more likely to be popular in Germany than in England , and too sentimental to suit the taste of most people . There are
some , however , to whom this little history will be most deeply touching and interesting ; it is a poem in prose , and deals with the
hidden workings of the heart and mind with a delicacy of fancy and a truthfulness of delineation peculiar to the Grermans . There are
little artistic touches here and there which are peculiarly beautiful . The story is very simple .
The son of a burgher is brought up near a beautiful castle , and is sent for occasionally to play-with the children of the reigning
prince and princess who inhabit it . The princess has a stepdaughter , the Countess Maria , who is an invalid , distinguished for
the saintliness of her life and the fascination of her manners . The " Fremdling" whilst still a childfeels an overpowering love for
, , her which becomes the master-passion of his life . They are separated , he goes to college , and she , all unconscious of his love ,
lives in her father ' s castle , quietly pursuing her thoughtful and imaginative studies . He returns , grown up , to his father ' s house
near the castle , and spends evening after evening with the princess , speaking English , reading Wordsworth , and quoting
" Deutsche Theologie . " All this time the royal family is absent , but suddenlthe " Fremdling" is warned to leave the country by
y the old court physician , and departs half distracted to the Tyrol . Meantime the princess is sent to a castle in the Tyrol , in order ( as
was supposed ) to be removed from the influence of her plebeian lover heof coursediscovers her vicinityand after an agitating
interview ; , is accepted , by Maria as her husband , . He is at the summit of his hopes and indulging in the wildest dreams of
happiness when the physician enters his lodging and informs him of her death . This is the framework of an interesting soul history ,
and the incidents of the " Fremdling ' s " childhood are most naturally told , witness for instance this relation of his first sight of the
stars : — * ' I can well recollect the first time I saw h the stars l . I in miist mother already have
I something often felt seen quite them came cold . ; into but I shuddere one my soul evening d , , which and , althoug froze made as my I if was I small had _ying been mind frig my more htened observant ; ' s then lap ,
than and I it wondered had ever been and thoug before ht . how Then well my my mother mother showed had me made the those clear pretty stars , things . And then I felt warm again and fell asleep . "
Here is an argument used by the " Fremdling" in his passionate courtship of the princess : —
she " A man rich loved The a fathers maiden and and relations his love was quarrelled returned . and But two he hearts was poor were ,
broken was . Wh . y ? Because the world considers it a misfortune , for a woman to
vol . in . x
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), June 1, 1859, page 281, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01061859/page/65/
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