Theodor Fontane Livres

Telling the tragic tale of a socially advantageous but emotionally ruinous match, this novel, translated by Hugh Rorrison with an introduction by Helen Chambers, follows the life of young Effi Briest. Married to the austere Baron von Innstetten, a civil servant twice her age, Effi feels isolated and bored. Seeking comfort, she engages in a brief affair with the married Major Crampas, a decision that later haunts her with fatal consequences. Through taut, ironic prose, the author explores a world where sexuality and the desire for enjoyment are suppressed by societal pretenses and obligations. This work is a humane, unsentimental portrait of a woman caught between her duties as a wife and mother and her own heart's instincts. Rorrison's modern translation is complemented by Chambers' introduction, which draws parallels between Effi and other literary heroines like Emma Bovary and Anna Karenina. The author, a notable German novelist and political reporter, is also known for his ironic critique of middle-class hypocrisy in another work. If you appreciate this novel, you might also enjoy Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, available in Penguin Classics. 'I have been haunted by it ... as I am by those novels that seem to do more than they say,' remarks Hermione Lee in the Sunday Times.

Anlässlich der 200. Geburtstages von Theodor Fontane widmet sich Otto Lehmann der vielleicht bekanntesten Ballade des Dichters: John Maynard. Er illustriert die einzelnen Verse mit stimmungsvollen eigenen Fotografien und gibt dann auch die englische Übersetzung wieder, wie sie auf der Gedenktafel in Buffalo verewigt wurde. Der Autor gibt einige Erklärungen zum Zustandekommen der Ballade und erklärt die Bedeutung von Balladen im Allgemeinen. Auch wichtige Stationen des Lebenswegs von Theodor Fontane werden vom Autor dargestellt. Insgesamt ist das Büchlein eine stimmungsvolle Reminiszenz an den Dichter mit einer seiner bedeutendsten Ballade.

This was the first of Fontane's sixteen novels, most of which became classics of the realist genre. Set in Berlin, shortly before the Prussians rebelled against Napoleon, the novel resembles War and Peace. This World's Classics edition is the first and only available in Englishtranslation.

The novel introduces a complex heroine navigating the intricacies of gender roles and marriage, reflecting themes that remain relevant in contemporary society. This first English translation of Fontane's late work offers insight into societal expectations and personal struggles, making it a significant addition to discussions around gender dynamics.

"In 1870s Berlin, an aristocratic officer in a glamorous cavalry regiment and a seamstress supporting herself and her invalid foster-mother with piecework defy convention by falling seriously in love."--P. [4] of cover.

Theodor Fontane's "Effi Briest" is now available in simple language, adhering to the ISO 24495-1:2023 standard, making it accessible for readers with limited reading skills. The novel explores themes of love and freedom through the struggles of a young woman caught between societal expectations and her desires in 19th century Germany.