The Great Debate: "Bolshevism" and the Literary Left in Germany, 1917-1930

This study interprets debates within the Weimar literary Left over the relation of literature to politics. The historical key to these debates was the German revolution of 1918-1919 and the idea of "Bolshevism", i.e. a symbolic allegiance to the only successful revolutionary movement of 1917-1920. In covering the arguments of figures like G. Grosz, W. Herzfelde, E. Piscator, J. Becher, A. Döblin, B. Brecht and W. Benjamin, it demonstrates the great ambivalence and historical specificity of the stances writers adopted in the Twenties over the issue of political allegiance to Marxism. Thus the work contributes to a historical appreciation of the mentality of the Weimar Republic and especially of "Weimar Culture". But its concerns extend beyond Weimar to the larger question of the relation of intellectuals to politics in the twentieth century.

List of contents

Contents: German Revolution 1918-1919 and literary "Bolshevism" - Pro- letkult - "Rote Gruppe": Grosz and Herzfelde - "Political Theater": Piscator - "Gruppe 1925": Döblin and Becher - Bund prol.-rev. Schriftsteller vs. Döblin - Brecht's politics in the Twenties.

Report

"The book provides the reader who is not conversant with the German-language literature on this subject with a concise summary of important publications in this crucial decade." (E. Glass, Choice)

Product details

• Authors: John A Zammito, John A. Zammito, John H Zammito, John H. Zammito
• Publisher: Peter Lang
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2016
• EAN: 9780820400747
• ISBN: 978-0-8204-0074-7
• No. of pages: 208
• Dimensions: 150 mm x 16 mm x 220 mm
• Weight: 387 g
• Series: American University Studies; American University Studies Series 9: History; American University Studies; American University Studies, Series 9: History
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas