Alloyed Truth: The Historiographical and Political Importance of Error in Ludwig Börne's Journalism

Abstract

This article shows that error was central to Ludwig Börne's thought on journalism's historiographical and political importance and for his notion of the ideal public sphere. In programmatic statements about journalism, Börne insists error is as important as the truth for reflecting the times in which one errs. This article looks at instances where Börne addresses his errors in action: in seemingly banal typos as well as an accidental instance of libel. In all cases, Börne defends error's value for authentically reflecting the present and for facilitating a public sphere based not on reasoned discussion, but on the exchange of Tadel, or reproach. The article builds on scholarship about the political subversiveness of Börne's writing and Vormärz literature more broadly and considers recent discussions of the representation of the present in literature, arguing that Börne saw honest journalism, errors and all, as inherently subversive.