The Politics of the Unpolitical : German Writers and the Problem of Power, 1770-1871

In a book written during the First World War, Thomas Mann wrote that political activity was alien to the German spirit and that "in fact the political element was absent from the German concept of education." The Politics of the Unpolitical demonstrates the essential unreliability of this generalization by focusing on the political activity of ten of Germany's most widely respected writers in the period from the French Revolution to the founding of the Bismarck Reich in 1871. Gordon A. Craig's book shows how Goethe, Schiller, Heinrich von Kleist, Wilhelm von Humboldt, Holderlin, and Heine were fascinated by the political issues of their day and reacted either by entering public service or threw themselves into efforts to change society for the better. In his study of ten of Germany's most important intellectuals Craig, focuses on their political views and activities and argues that they were not, in fact, representatives of the genre of the "unpolitical German." In The Politics Of The Unpolitical: German Writers And The Problem Of Power, 1770-1871, Historian Gordon Craig Demonstrates The Essential Unreliability Of This Generalization By Focusing On The Political Activity Of Ten Of Germany's Most Widely Respected Writers In The Period From The French Revolution To The Founding Of The Bismarck Reich.--book Jacket. Craig Shows How Goethe, Schiller, Heinrich Von Kleist, Wilhelm Von Humboldt, Holderlin, And Heine Were Fascinated By The Political Issues Of Their Day And - By Focusing On Their Political Views And Activities - Urges That They Were Not Representatives Of The Genre Of The Unpolitical German. On The Contrary, Craig Argues, The Writers Studied Here Were All Interested In And In Various Ways Engaged In Political Life. He Also Examines The Overwhelming Effect Of The Personality Of Napoleon Bonaparte Upon German Politics, Awakening Intellectuals To The Vital Importance Of Power In Its Many Dimensions In The Political Process.--book Jacket. The Politics Of The Unpolitical Deals With A Question That Has Always Been A Point Of Controversy: Do Writers Have Political Responsibility And Are They Obliged To Show Political Engagement In Their Works? Craig Answers These Questions With An Unequivocal Yes.--book Jacket. 1. Goethe As Statesman -- 2. A German Jacobin: Georg Forster -- 3. Friedrich Schiller And The Police -- 4. Johannes Von Muller: The Historian In Search Of A Hero -- 5. Heinrich Von Kleist And The Duel With Napoleon -- 6. Wilhelm Von Humboldt As Diplomat -- 7. Holderlin And The Barbarians -- 8. Lenau As Political Writer -- 9. Heinrich Heine And The Germans -- 10. Gervinus And German Unity. Gordon A. Craig. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 157-181) And Index. In this book, Craig deals with a question that has always been a point of controversy: do political writers have responsibility and are they obliged to show political engagement in their work? Craig answers this question by studying ten German writers from 1770-1871, among them Goethe, Schiller, Klein, and Heine and finds that these `unpolitical' writers were actively engaged in their politics. Craig deals with a question that has always been a point of controversy: do political writers have responsibility and are they obliged to show political engagement in their works? Craig answers this question by studying ten German writers from 1770-1871, among them Goethe, Schiller, Kleist, and Heine and finds that these 'unpolitical' writers were actively engaged in their politics