Lucinde and the Fragments

by Friedrich Schlegel, Peter Edgerly Firchow (Translator, introduction)

For the last century and a half, Friedrich Schlegel (1772-1829) has enjoyed a reputation for being the critical grey eminence behind the coming to power of the Romantic Movement. It was Schlegel, in his three series of aphoristic fragments (Lyceum, Athenaeum, and Ideas), who actually first defined and employed the word “romantic” in the present sense; and it was he who in a chaotic, fragmentary, and often mysterious but forceful manner first proclaimed the doctrine that was to usher in the modern age in literature. He too was among the first to put his new program into practice in the shape of his unfinished Lucinde, a work variously denounced as pornography and heralded as a forerunner of modern novelistic experimentation, and probably the most famous novel to come out of German Romanticism. Both the Fragments and Lucinde, along with a brilliant tour de force, the “Essay on Incomprehensibility,” are available now for the first time in a complete English translation in this volume, together with a brief scholarly introduction. This translation will enable non-German readers to examine at first hand the work of a man whom Rene Wellck has called “one of the greatest critics of history.” At a time when the function of criticism is coming once again under close skeptical scrutiny, Friedrich Schlegel’s unorthodox, unsystematic but seminal critical mind -- all of literature, philosophy, art, and history were grist to his mill -- should find many sympathetic readers. The book will be of particular interest to theorists of literature and fiction, comparative literature scholars, and historians of the intellectual history of Germany, and it is appropriate for course use in German and comparative literature classes. The photos of Friedrich Schlegel and his wife Dorthea Veit are used by permission of the Freies Deutsches Hochstift, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and the Staatsbibliothek der Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin, Germany, respectively.

Genres: Philosophy, Romanticism, Poetry, Nonfiction, German Literature, Germany

277 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1797

About the author

August Wilhelm von Schlegel also edited a literary magazine with Friedrich Schlegel, his brother, a philosopher, poet, and critic, whose essays formed the intellectual basis of German romanticism.

This scholar critically led.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedri...

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

#12 - "One of two things is usually lacking in the so-called philosophy of art: either philosophy or art." (Challenge accepted Schlegel.)

#28 - "Feeling (for a particular art, science, person etc.) is divided spirit, is self-restriction: hence a result of self-creation and self destruction."

#83 - "MANNERS ARE CHARACTERISTIC EDGES."

#110 - "What if the harmonious education of artists and nobility is merely a harmonious illusion?"

#127 - "It's indelicate to be astonished when something is beautiful or great; as if it could be any different."

[Caroline Loftus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ridiculous little book—borders on proto-surrealism. I will never fully love late 18th century sentimental literature because it is too saccharine for my tastes. At the same time, it is fascinating, especially given that it paved the way for so much future literary expression. Schlegel was clearly a weird guy (in a good way, I think?). It’s fascinating that this book was considered pornography in its day. In that sense it reminds me of DH Lawrence—explicit but rarely graphic. I had read Schlegel’s fragments before, and I liked them both then and now. He’s definitely best as a writer of fragments which (to me) makes him super interesting as a literary figure in the current era of fragments (posts).

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very interesting. This narrative is odd, quite unlike most everything else I've ever read—save, perhaps, some stuff from Flaubert.

I was inspired to read Lucinde by Isaiah Berlin's strong endorsement in his excellent book The Roots of Romanticism.

Lucinde is only 33,000 words; the Fragments, less good than Lucinde, are another 9,000 words.

The Introduction (13,000 words) by Peter Firchow is very good, well worth reading for its historical contexualization.

This is a good book. I'll reread it someday, probably after rereading (for the seventh or eighth time) The Roots of Romanticism.

[Nick Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to appreciate Lucinde more than I did. What could be more enticing than an experimental Romantic era novel by the critic who first introduced the term “Romantic?” There are flashes of brilliance in there certainly, but Lucinde probably has to be read as a product and in the context of its time to appreciate its impact and revolutionary nature. It isn’t a narrative so much as a disjointed collections of dreams, ideas and monologues, linked by themes of love, loss and inspiration. Perhaps it’s a novel that requires multiple readings to really grasp its metaphysical treasures. It is likely much more appreciable in the original German too. For me it was interesting rather than inspiring. The unabashed openness and honesty of the narrator are key strengths.

[Sasha Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand the negative reputation this book has, but I can't help but love it as a bombastic weird person manifesto. Gives the impression that Schlegel meant the things he wrote but was also just kind of exaggerating in the spur of the moment for the sake of shock and attention. (paraphrasing:) "the more a man wants to be like a god the more he should be like a plant" Great stuff.