Adalbert Stifter has always been viewed as a natural heir to the Great Classical tradition, even by those critics who detect disturbing subtexts in his fiction. But he should be viewed quite differently: however well disguised, he is in truth a closet modernist, and a major trailblazer for Kafka and the Absurd.This is most evident in his late fiction, which has been almost universally ignored, dismissed or disparaged by his critics. His last novel Witiko in particular has been conspicuously neglected by both nineteenth- and twentieth-century critics. Ragg-Kirkby demonstrates -- largely by way of close reading -- that this is Stifter's extreme masterpiece. Beneath the surface of Biedermeier stuffiness is a vision of fracture, emptiness, meaninglessness, and mania not only more radical than that of any other 19th-century author, but arguably more radical than that of any 20th-century author, precisely because there is such a disjuncture between text and sub-text. In his final novel, Stifter simply leaves the future behind.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
...offers a clear, accessible, well-written and well-illustrated restatement of the duplicity of Stifter's writing.... Thoroughly to be recommended... --Journal of European Studies
The book is strongly argued without being dogmatic, and its clear and fluent style ... ensures that it is highly readable. --Year's Work in Modern Language Studies
Ragg-Kirkby argues with cogency and passion that this novel (Witiko), along with some other late works (...), far from being pathological deformations and unreadable, are in fact the apotheosis of Stifter's art. JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES There is much that is suggestive and much to admire in this intelligent study of Stifter's late work. MONATSHEFTE This study constitutes a fascinating, insightful, and exciting augmentation of current Stifter scholarship. GERMAN STUDIES REVIEW Ragg-Kirkby's study deserves the attention of both new and traditional critics of Stifter. GERMAN QUARTERLY The observations about minimalism, rhythmic monotony, and elements of the fairy tale are insightful and significant. GERMANISTIK --Various
The book is strongly argued without being dogmatic, and its clear and fluent style ... ensures that it is highly readable. --Year's Work in Modern Language Studies
Ragg-Kirkby argues with cogency and passion that this novel (Witiko), along with some other late works (...), far from being pathological deformations and unreadable, are in fact the apotheosis of Stifter's art. JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES There is much that is suggestive and much to admire in this intelligent study of Stifter's late work. MONATSHEFTE This study constitutes a fascinating, insightful, and exciting augmentation of current Stifter scholarship. GERMAN STUDIES REVIEW Ragg-Kirkby's study deserves the attention of both new and traditional critics of Stifter. GERMAN QUARTERLY The observations about minimalism, rhythmic monotony, and elements of the fairy tale are insightful and significant. GERMANISTIK --Various
About the Author
Helena Ragg-Kirkby is a lecturer in German at the University of Sheffield.
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