An excerpt from the Introductory: IN the field of contemporaneous "belles lettres" the French literature was the only rival of the English in the eighteenth century. The latter, of course, predominated; firstly, because of the coincidence of language, and secondly, because of the almost uninterrupted communication between England and America, both before and after the Revolution, affording abundant opportunity for the importation of books and periodicals, so eagerly sought for in the new country, particularly by the ...
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An excerpt from the Introductory: IN the field of contemporaneous "belles lettres" the French literature was the only rival of the English in the eighteenth century. The latter, of course, predominated; firstly, because of the coincidence of language, and secondly, because of the almost uninterrupted communication between England and America, both before and after the Revolution, affording abundant opportunity for the importation of books and periodicals, so eagerly sought for in the new country, particularly by the journalists. But French literature, too, was accessible through the same channels, and especially during the last quarter of the century, when the political friendship between France and America was felt to have been sealed by their union against Great Britain, the periodicals devoted much attention to the works of French genius. To be sure, it is not at all improbable that the majority of these critiques and translations were, derived directly from English sources, but the tendency is none the less noticeable. German literature, on the other hand, notwithstanding the number of Germans who had sought homes here, seems to have been almost entirely unknown to Americans until the last decade of the century. A magazine article of the year 1788, on the "Literary Wit and Taste of the European Nations," offers strong confirmation of this. The writer, evidently an American, says;-"The French and English are at present the most literary nations of the globe. The other European nations do not pretend to enter into any competition with them. Germany claims the third place, Italy the fourth." The entire article deals with French and English literature, not a German work or author finding mention. However, the writer claims to have made the acquaintance of a German, whom he does not name, and who, he says, had impressed him deeply on account of the impartiality with which he judged various nations. "The Germans, he said, had plain, strong understandings, of a solid, capacious texture, able to bear the weight of much knowledge, and the fatigue of much study; in these qualities, he thought, they surpassed all Europeans. In several countries he had known men of universal learning, but in none had he met with individuals of that description so often as in Germany, where l'on trouve dans chaque universite deux ou trois bibliotheques parlantes'." But it never occurs to the writer, notwithstanding the latitude allowed by the title he has chosen, to mention a single German writer or scholar. Indeed it is doubtful whether he would have been able to do so, without first having acquired the information from his German friend. The fact that his quotation from the latter is in French, undoubtedly means that the conversations were carried on in that tongue. That is, the American knew French, but no German. Toward the close of the century, a little favorable criticism of English origin appears, but it is clear that American critics are still total strangers to the subject. Half a century brought about a great change in these conditions. Interest in the literature of Germany, wholly imperceptible in the ante-revolutionary periodicals, evidenced only by weak beginnings in those of the last quarter of the eighteenth century, began to grow gradually during the first few years of the nineteenth, received fresh and lasting impulse from the pens of the first American German students, -Everett, Ticknor, Bancroft, and their successors, - then grew with astonishing rapidity, till, in the forties, there swept over the country what Mr. Theodore Parker, in his somewhat extravagant Dial article on German Literature, facetiously calls a "German craze." This movement is one which has not been equalled in extent in any previous or subsequent period in the United States."
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Add this copy of German Literature in American Magazines Prior to 1846 to cart. $7.51, good condition, Sold by Zubal Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cleveland, OH, UNITED STATES, published 1907 by University of Wisconsin.
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264 pp., original paper wrappers (softcover), covers chipped, occasional marginalia, spine taped, good. -If you are reading this, this item is actually (physically) in our stock and ready for shipment once ordered. We are not bookjackers. Buyer is responsible for any additional duties, taxes, or fees required by recipient's country.
Add this copy of German Literature in American Magazines Prior to 1846 to cart. $25.00, very good condition, Sold by James Cummings Bookseller rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Signal Mountain, TN, UNITED STATES, published 1907 by University of Wisconsin.
Add this copy of German Literature in American Magazines Prior to 1846 to cart. $59.74, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by Wentworth Press.