Einführung in die Literatur des Expressionismus by Ralf Georg Bogner, and: A Companion to the Literature of German Expressionism ed. by Neil H. Donahue

Abstract

276 Reviews Hofmannsthal was, in Schnitzler's measured view after his death, 'der groBte Dichter dieser Zeit' (diary, i9 August I930). Weinzierl realistically observes that in his often selfish behaviour to his wife he was no more difficult than any other genius (p. 2I0). But how much does the evidence he presents tells us about Hof mannsthal's genius? Biographies of creative writers are often difficultbecause their work is their life; though evenWeinzierl's collage of carefully assembled evidence is not strictlyconfined to the lifebut fills inbackground such as themisapprehensions ofHofmannsthal's contemporaries about his familyorigins, or the record ofhis fellow conservatives and the aristocracy after theAnschluss, readers will note the absence of chapters on his personal relations with the two figureswho, though not intimate friends,were probably the most important influences on his creativework,Max Rein hardt and Richard Strauss. Weinzierl's subtitle is a knowing limitation of his aim, but in concentrating on probing theweak points inHofmannsthal's character and social lifehe has produced a study that isnot justmore limited in sympathy but also more distant from the creative work than his earlier Schnitzler study, also probing three key areas of experience, Arthur Schnitzler: Lieben- Trdumen- Sterben (Frankfurt a.M.: Fischer, I994). UNIVERSITY OF EXETER W. E. YATES Einfiihrung in die Literatur des Expressionismus. By RALF GEORG BOGNER. (Ein fiihrungenGermanistik) Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft. 2005. i6o pp. EI4.90. ISBN 978-3-534-i 690I-6. A Companion to theLiterature ofGerman Expressionism. Ed. by NEIL H. DONAHUE. (Studies inGerman Literature, Linguistics, and Culture) Rochester, NY: Cam den House. 2005. xiv+392pp. $95; ?60. ISBN 978-1-57II3-I75-I. Ralf Georg Bogner's book constitutes a concise and clear introduction toExpression ist literature. In the firstninety-odd pages he gives the reader a good sense of the complex aims of themovement as well as the critical debates surrounding it.After discussing the term's usefulness as a period concept within modern German culture, he surveys the scholarly research to date and Expressionism's political, intellectual, and artistic contexts. He then turns to themajor themes, forms, and genres of Ex pressionist writing. A brief chronology of keyworks and events rounds off thisbrisk but well-informed overview. Like many other commentators, Bogner views Expressionism as a reactive phe nomenon marked by a fundamental ambivalence vis-a-vis themodern world. As a product and a critique ofmodernity itresists easy categorization. In contrast tomany similar introductions aimed at students and teachers, Bogner's actually pursues an argument, which is another strength of the book. He is very good at demonstrating the extent towhich contemporary vitalism shaped Expressionist ideas and also its unique rhetoric of pathos and hyperbole. Hence Bogner sees Expressionism's answer to modernity in termsof a comprehensive 'Fiktionalisierung vonWirklichkeit' (p. 24), conducted often in abstract and fragmented form. So, forBogner, Expressionism is a critical modernism that seeks to renew and redeem modernity, while remaining caught up in thevery logic of thatmodernity. The finalsection of the book, some fifty pages, offersdetailed analyses ofDoblin's story 'Die Ermordung einer Butterblume', Heym's poem 'Berlin I', Albert Ehren stein's narrative Tubutsch, Benn's poem 'Mann und Frau gehen durch die Krebs baracke', and Kaiser's play Von morgens bismitternachts. Bogner's readings of these 'works' (as the chapter titlehas it) aremeant to substantiate his argument, but differ slightly inapproach-for example, he discusses Benn's poetics indepth but expressly MLR, I02. I, 2007 277 omits thiswhen discussing theother texts-and also in length.There are a few loose ends, as in the reading ofEhrenstein's prose as amanifesto (p. I I7) and in theunder playing of Benn's hyperbolic style (p. 127). However, Bogner's argument that each text firstand foremost presents a literarywork which requires rhetorical analysis, and which should not be read as a biographical and social document, convinces. In Bogner's reading, the texts present a very sceptical diagnosis ofmodernity without unreservedly articulating any redemptive hopes. Together with the firstsections of the book, the clarity of Bogner's commentary and the information and argument contained in the analyses make for a superior introduction, which will undoubtedly be useful in teaching advanced students. A detailed commented bibliography and two indexes at...