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Sintram and His Companions
"His knights might be Sir Galahad -- 'My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure.' "Evil comes to them as something to be conquered, generally as a form of magic enchantment, and his 'wondrous fair maidens' are worthy of them. Yet there is adventure enough to afford much pleasure, and often we have a touch of true genius, which has given actual ideas to the world, and precious ones. "This genius is especially traceable in his two masterpieces, Sintram and Undine. . . . his wonderful romance, not exactly an allegory, where every circumstance can be fitted with an appropriate meaning, but with the sense of the struggle of life, with external temptation and hereditary inclination pervading all, while Grace and Prayer aid the effort."
168 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1814
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About the author
Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué
365 books45 followersFriedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte, Baron Fouqué was a German writer of the romantic style.
He was born at Brandenburg an der Havel, of a family of French Huguenot origin, as evidenced in his family name. His grandfather, Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué, had been one of Frederick the Great's generals and his father was a Prussian officer. Although not originally intended for a military career, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué ultimately gave up his university studies at Halle to join the army, and he took part in the Rhine campaign of 1794. The rest of his life was devoted mainly to literary pursuits. He was introduced to August Wilhelm Schlegel, who deeply influenced him as a poet (mich gelehret Maß und Regel | Meister August Wilhelm Schlegel) and who published Fouqué's first book, Dramatische Spiele von Pellegrin, in 1804.
Fouqué's first marriage was unhappy and soon ended in divorce. His second wife, Caroline Philippine von Briest (1773-1831), enjoyed some reputation as a novelist in her day. After her death Fouqué married a third time. Some consolation for the ebbing tide of popular favour was afforded him by the munificence of Frederick William IV of Prussia, who granted him a pension which allowed him to spend his later years in comfort. He died in Berlin in 1843.
He was born at Brandenburg an der Havel, of a family of French Huguenot origin, as evidenced in his family name. His grandfather, Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué, had been one of Frederick the Great's generals and his father was a Prussian officer. Although not originally intended for a military career, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué ultimately gave up his university studies at Halle to join the army, and he took part in the Rhine campaign of 1794. The rest of his life was devoted mainly to literary pursuits. He was introduced to August Wilhelm Schlegel, who deeply influenced him as a poet (mich gelehret Maß und Regel | Meister August Wilhelm Schlegel) and who published Fouqué's first book, Dramatische Spiele von Pellegrin, in 1804.
Fouqué's first marriage was unhappy and soon ended in divorce. His second wife, Caroline Philippine von Briest (1773-1831), enjoyed some reputation as a novelist in her day. After her death Fouqué married a third time. Some consolation for the ebbing tide of popular favour was afforded him by the munificence of Frederick William IV of Prussia, who granted him a pension which allowed him to spend his later years in comfort. He died in Berlin in 1843.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 7, 2024
Wow! This is the sort of book, every father/parent needs to sit down and read with his son when the young man reaches puberty! Young girls who like adventures will enjoy it too.
Sintram, is a young knight, all but orphaned by his father, Biorn’s rash murderous vow and his mother, Verena’s atoning sacrifice to go into a convent to pray for her son’s safety from the two figures who now haunt the castle: the tall thin man, Death and the short, ugly creature, the devil.
To balance things out, Sintram does have some real friends as he grows to manhood, the chaplain and Rolf the Good. Over the years of his growth into adulthood, Sintram experiences a number of challenges, some involving his father, some including Death and most forbidding, those with the devil. He comes as ‘the Master’ tempting Sintram with the story of Paris’ seduction of/by the beautiful Helen, in this case named Gabrielle, married to an upstanding knight, Folko of Montfaucon. Sintram has opportunities to steal her away, kill his rival and be the cause of a war to rival the great one between Troy and Greece. His wrestling with his conscience is more epic than most battle scenes. He is not always successful, which is what makes the story so unique and his character so heroic.
My thanks to Charlotte Mary Yonge whose characters in The Heir of Redclyffe talked so extensively about this book, especially about the character, Sintram, and his lifelong battles with virtue and falls from grace.
An epic tale of the first order!
Sintram, is a young knight, all but orphaned by his father, Biorn’s rash murderous vow and his mother, Verena’s atoning sacrifice to go into a convent to pray for her son’s safety from the two figures who now haunt the castle: the tall thin man, Death and the short, ugly creature, the devil.
To balance things out, Sintram does have some real friends as he grows to manhood, the chaplain and Rolf the Good. Over the years of his growth into adulthood, Sintram experiences a number of challenges, some involving his father, some including Death and most forbidding, those with the devil. He comes as ‘the Master’ tempting Sintram with the story of Paris’ seduction of/by the beautiful Helen, in this case named Gabrielle, married to an upstanding knight, Folko of Montfaucon. Sintram has opportunities to steal her away, kill his rival and be the cause of a war to rival the great one between Troy and Greece. His wrestling with his conscience is more epic than most battle scenes. He is not always successful, which is what makes the story so unique and his character so heroic.
My thanks to Charlotte Mary Yonge whose characters in The Heir of Redclyffe talked so extensively about this book, especially about the character, Sintram, and his lifelong battles with virtue and falls from grace.
An epic tale of the first order!
November 6, 2015
This is a strange, layered and complicated book. It can be read both at the level of a fairly decent piece of literature written in the early 1800's, or you can go deeper in trying to figure what is Fouque trying to communicate to us.
And that is the problem with this book. There are just too many stronger characters in this short book some of them seem nearly identical. This caused me to wonder who is this which I am reading about. The action is non-stop, which does not lend to pondering what is Fouque getting at.
But before I get too negative, this is an interesting book, once you figure out what Fouque is trying to do. It is a myth type book where the hero, Sintram, is confronted with two companions throughout his life: death and the devil. As such, he is very much faced with choices and he often chooses wrong. But there is always redemption and grace in the mix, So when you read it, read it look for something deeper than just knights in shining armor and lovely pure ladies.
For more of my thoughts on this book, take a look at my blog.
And that is the problem with this book. There are just too many stronger characters in this short book some of them seem nearly identical. This caused me to wonder who is this which I am reading about. The action is non-stop, which does not lend to pondering what is Fouque getting at.
But before I get too negative, this is an interesting book, once you figure out what Fouque is trying to do. It is a myth type book where the hero, Sintram, is confronted with two companions throughout his life: death and the devil. As such, he is very much faced with choices and he often chooses wrong. But there is always redemption and grace in the mix, So when you read it, read it look for something deeper than just knights in shining armor and lovely pure ladies.
For more of my thoughts on this book, take a look at my blog.
March 17, 2021
This was an interesting book... to say the least. It was quite short-- but very powerful.
I loved how the author stresses the importance of prayer and how it can strengthen one and protect one from evil.
I also liked the way he depicted religious life. Their life to pray for people in great temptation and for the mercy of the Lord.
In negatives I thought it was too short to properly show what he was trying to say. I don't sympathise with all the war and battle stuff myself-- and I don't think it a very realistic depiction of the early middle ages.
I liked the way it shows how though animals are terrified of death, because for them it is the end, a man need not fear for death, for it is not the end but the beggining.
But I realize it is more about the message than the setting and I thought it very fascinating and at times beautiful.
I loved how the author stresses the importance of prayer and how it can strengthen one and protect one from evil.
I also liked the way he depicted religious life. Their life to pray for people in great temptation and for the mercy of the Lord.
In negatives I thought it was too short to properly show what he was trying to say. I don't sympathise with all the war and battle stuff myself-- and I don't think it a very realistic depiction of the early middle ages.
I liked the way it shows how though animals are terrified of death, because for them it is the end, a man need not fear for death, for it is not the end but the beggining.
But I realize it is more about the message than the setting and I thought it very fascinating and at times beautiful.
January 16, 2013
Dear me. I thought "Undine" was a bit hysterical, but this tosh is worse! I just cannot see why either Jo March or the characters in "The Heir of Redclyffe" had such a high opinion it. Alcott and Yonge could both write heartfelt stories about realistic people which are genuinely affecting, so why did they rate this artificial nonsense?
September 9, 2022
I knew I needed to read this book after reading The Heir of Redclyffe as this book played a huge role in that book. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much as I did, if I didn't know that this book played a huge role in that book as well as is mentioned in many other works, including Little Women.
This is a type of tale that is very out of fashion these days. It is a moral tale and is more in the style of the legends of King Arthur than truly either fantasy or real-life tales.
This is a tale of a young boy, haunted by his sins and the sins of others who, with God's help and the help of others defeats evil both within himself and others.
I love how God's power and prayer are such important keys in this story.
This is a type of tale that is very out of fashion these days. It is a moral tale and is more in the style of the legends of King Arthur than truly either fantasy or real-life tales.
This is a tale of a young boy, haunted by his sins and the sins of others who, with God's help and the help of others defeats evil both within himself and others.
I love how God's power and prayer are such important keys in this story.
November 20, 2018
Sintram is a Gothic fairy-romance inspired by Albrecht Dürer's famous engraving Knight, Death, and the Devil. Its brooding Byronic protagonist lives in a gloomy Scandinavian castle, tormented by dark dreams and the desire for a fair lady from the land of flowers. Through the whole plot runs a conflict between Christian ascetic love and pagan passion, embodied respectively in Sintram's saintly mother and cruel father. Fouqué might have been a flash in the pan as far as the popular literary scene was concerned, but one wonders what the Victorian fantasists William Morris and George MacDonald would be without him. Fouqué's opulent prose and moral idealism may seem hopelessly dated—even C. S. Lewis confessed he found Sintram "tawdry"—but their charm lingers. For me, Sintram was an unexpected delight. It belongs on the shelf of any lover of early fantasy.
June 7, 2016
I found an absolutely beautiful old copy of this in the Quinto's basement. Gorgeous illustrations, thick paper and beautiful type. I loved Undine so I had to get this as well. The whole story is based on Durer's Knight, Death and the Devil woodcut. It is the type of spooky supernatural romance that reminded me a lot of William Morris's stories. It had very strange pacing and very little plot, but it was pretty wonderful and mysterious. The poor doomed soul, family tragedy, haunted by dwarfs and pilgrims. Definitely I will want to read again. I'm not 100 percent sure it was a good translation, but I still really enjoyed it.
June 19, 2020
Very much like a Pilgrim's Progress/d'morte de Arthur coupling. Very old writing style, very parabolic/religious. Unlike arthurian books, this was just not as enticing. It was also predictable and a little tough to get through. You don't really love any character except old Rolfe, maybe. Sintram is also not overly relatable.
February 19, 2026
Sorry I wasn't familiar with your game, I didn't like it at the beginning, it was really silly, buth then I almost cried when he met his mom
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews