The Novices of Sais: With illustrations by Paul Klee

Novalis is one of the towering figures of German Romanticism. The Novices of Sais , translated from the German into French in 1925, received enthusiastic recognition by artists and poets alike and is often quoted by the surrealists. The text is a lyrical combination of Romantic emotion combined with a profound fascination with nature. In 1949, the novel was translated into English by Ralph Manheim and accompanied by 60 original drawings by Paul Klee. With an introduction by Stephen Spender. Friedrich von Hardenberg, who wrote under the pen name Novalis , died at the age of 29 in 1801. His Hymns to the Night is considered one of the great pillars of German Romanticism. "The Novices of Sais is a Romantic meld of poetry, philosophy, and transcendental journey. Revolutionary yet profoundly simple at once, Novalis' reverence for the natural world pours out of every page. Translated into French in 1925, it was embraced by artists and poets alike and his often quoted by the Surrealists. Paul Klee's drawings were inspired by this visionary exploration of the inner life of modern humankind."--BOOK JACKET