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The Lenz Papers
It is the month of May, 1849. The fortress city of Rastatt in Baden, a small Germany Grand Duchy, rocks with the turmoil of uprising soon to erupt.
Into the noise and confusion of the 'Türkenlouis' Inn enter the people who will act out the story: Andreas Lenz, poet and soldier; Josepha, whose beauty is challenge and allurement to civilians and military; Lenore, daughter of the town's banker, exquisite, intellectual, who would turn camp follower gladly to win the man she loves; Christoffel, peasant become revolutionary, on his way to Cologne to meet young Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the editors of a struggling left-wing journal.
Thus opens this story of one of the most dramatic periods in European history: the brief three months when the revolutions of 1848-1849 gave hope to the common man in at least one part of Germany.
Stefan Heym, with a skillful blending of romance and hard fact, presents a panoramic view of this time of conflict. His talent lends life to the files of history through the lives of men and women. And whether these are the Royal Prince, or the generals, or the street girls, seamstresses, journeymen, journalists, pedlars, peasants, priests, actors who gave mid-ninteenth-century Baden its colour and weave; or the heroes, the cowards, the bureaucrats, the opportunists, the forthright whose actions are a matter of record -- each and every one is important to the telling of the tale.
Mainly through the eyes and pen of the soldier poet Andreas Lenz, the author shows the seed of revolution flowering to a triumphant coup d'etat: faltering under inexperience, disunited leadership and shortage of funds; dying out miserably and pathetically in the heartbreak of unstemmed Prussian reaction. On the eve of this collapse, Lenz finds new courage in the thought that: 'When all is said and done, what remains of the struggle? The changes it brought for better or worse -- whichever -- they melt into the great design of human development...'
It is the great design which extends back to Valley Forge, gathers momentum in the storming of the Bastille, alights briefly on the Grand Duchy in Gettysburg, mans the barricades of the French Commune and finds ultimate expression in the revolutions of the twentieth century.
It is this great design which Stefan Heym traces in The Lenz Papers and which gives breadth and scope to that which we believe to be a historical novel of stature.
(From the dust-jacket)
Into the noise and confusion of the 'Türkenlouis' Inn enter the people who will act out the story: Andreas Lenz, poet and soldier; Josepha, whose beauty is challenge and allurement to civilians and military; Lenore, daughter of the town's banker, exquisite, intellectual, who would turn camp follower gladly to win the man she loves; Christoffel, peasant become revolutionary, on his way to Cologne to meet young Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the editors of a struggling left-wing journal.
Thus opens this story of one of the most dramatic periods in European history: the brief three months when the revolutions of 1848-1849 gave hope to the common man in at least one part of Germany.
Stefan Heym, with a skillful blending of romance and hard fact, presents a panoramic view of this time of conflict. His talent lends life to the files of history through the lives of men and women. And whether these are the Royal Prince, or the generals, or the street girls, seamstresses, journeymen, journalists, pedlars, peasants, priests, actors who gave mid-ninteenth-century Baden its colour and weave; or the heroes, the cowards, the bureaucrats, the opportunists, the forthright whose actions are a matter of record -- each and every one is important to the telling of the tale.
Mainly through the eyes and pen of the soldier poet Andreas Lenz, the author shows the seed of revolution flowering to a triumphant coup d'etat: faltering under inexperience, disunited leadership and shortage of funds; dying out miserably and pathetically in the heartbreak of unstemmed Prussian reaction. On the eve of this collapse, Lenz finds new courage in the thought that: 'When all is said and done, what remains of the struggle? The changes it brought for better or worse -- whichever -- they melt into the great design of human development...'
It is the great design which extends back to Valley Forge, gathers momentum in the storming of the Bastille, alights briefly on the Grand Duchy in Gettysburg, mans the barricades of the French Commune and finds ultimate expression in the revolutions of the twentieth century.
It is this great design which Stefan Heym traces in The Lenz Papers and which gives breadth and scope to that which we believe to be a historical novel of stature.
(From the dust-jacket)
551 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
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January 11, 2025
The revolutions of 1848 form the tumultuous backdrop of this magnificent tome, set in the fortress city of Rastatt in Baden, where Andreas Lenz, a poet and soldier, becomes deeply involved in the revolutionary fervor. Alongside him are characters such as Josepha, a striking beauty, and Lenore, the intellectual daughter of a banker, who is willing to forsake her privileged life for love. The story captures the initial hope and enthusiasm of the revolutionaries as they strive for a coup d'état, only to face the harsh realities of disunity, inexperience, and insufficient resources. As Heym writes, "The seed of revolution flowered to a triumphant coup d'état: faltering under inexperience, disunited leadership and shortage of funds; dying out miserably and pathetically in the heartbreak of unstemmed Prussian reaction".
As the revolution progresses, the characters experience the highs and lows of their struggle. Lenz, through his poetic and soldierly lens, witnesses the revolution's fleeting triumphs and its ultimate downfall. The narrative explores the personal sacrifices and the collective disillusionment that accompany the revolutionary cause. The revolutionaries' dreams are gradually crushed by the relentless advance of Prussian forces, leading to a poignant reflection on the nature of struggle and change. On the eve of this collapse, Lenz finds new courage in the thought that, "When all is said and done, what remains of the struggle? The changes it brought for better or worse -- whichever -- they melt into the great design of human development".
With notable cameos by illustrious historical figures such as Marx and Engles, The Lenz Papers offers a panoramic view of a pivotal moment in European history, blending romance with historical fact. Heym's portrayal of the revolution's rise and fall serves as a meditation on the broader currents of human development and the enduring quest for justice and freedom. The novel's rich array of characters and events underscores the complexity and tragedy of revolutionary movements. As Heym reflects, "It is the great design which extends back to Valley Forge, gathers momentum in the storming of the Bastille, alights briefly on the Grand Duchy in Gettysburg, mans the barricades of the French Commune and finds ultimate expression in the revolutions of the twentieth century".
As the revolution progresses, the characters experience the highs and lows of their struggle. Lenz, through his poetic and soldierly lens, witnesses the revolution's fleeting triumphs and its ultimate downfall. The narrative explores the personal sacrifices and the collective disillusionment that accompany the revolutionary cause. The revolutionaries' dreams are gradually crushed by the relentless advance of Prussian forces, leading to a poignant reflection on the nature of struggle and change. On the eve of this collapse, Lenz finds new courage in the thought that, "When all is said and done, what remains of the struggle? The changes it brought for better or worse -- whichever -- they melt into the great design of human development".
With notable cameos by illustrious historical figures such as Marx and Engles, The Lenz Papers offers a panoramic view of a pivotal moment in European history, blending romance with historical fact. Heym's portrayal of the revolution's rise and fall serves as a meditation on the broader currents of human development and the enduring quest for justice and freedom. The novel's rich array of characters and events underscores the complexity and tragedy of revolutionary movements. As Heym reflects, "It is the great design which extends back to Valley Forge, gathers momentum in the storming of the Bastille, alights briefly on the Grand Duchy in Gettysburg, mans the barricades of the French Commune and finds ultimate expression in the revolutions of the twentieth century".
Displaying 1 of 1 review