Some German Novels

Tun most interesting feature of German post-War literature is undoubtedly the revival of the historical novel. The

realistic methods of French and Russian writers had, we confess, caused us to fear the deterioration of that particular branch of fiction, but now we have beside us several volumes which will, without doubt, satisfy even the most critical research student. Love of history is, with our Teutonic neighbours, a religious passion. Nor will any competent

judge deny that they excel in setting before the reader a vivid picture of the past. Thus it is that we are enabled to cross the gulf easily, and watch the ancient day unroll before our eyes.

Die Hassliche Herzogin, by Lion Feuchtwanger (Munich, Kiepenheuer Verlag), will assuredly enjoy the same popularity

here as it has in Germany. It is authoritative. It covers a wide field, and its charm is irresistible. In the early pears of the fourteenth century was born Margarcte Duchess of Tyrol and Carinthia, daughter of Henry, the weak old King of Bohemia. Central Europe was in a disturbed condition. Warfare raged in Germany and Italy, where Louis of Bavaria and Ferdinand of Austria struggled eternally for the Imperial rown. At Avignon Pope John XXII., old and fiercely hated, counted his golden florins—one hundred and eighty million if them, the fruit of long years of extortion--more important ar to him than these interminable quarrels between Guelph id Ghibelline Meanwhile, Tyrol, commanding as it did he easiest route to Italy, was coveted by every crowned head n Europe, for they all dreamed of conquering that lovely shining land beyond the mountains. This being so, Duchess Margarete was snapped up at an early age by John of Luxemburg, the most famous knight in Christendom, for his second son. She was clever. She was courageous. Her position was, of course, unassailablg, but her sinister ape-like face, her misshapen body and her enormous bloated hands caused her husband to turn from her in loathing. Before she as twenty, sentence had been passed upon her. She was rgarete Maultasch, the ugly Duchess ; the most tragical gure in Europe. When she realized her isolation and mild cheat herself no longer, she turned with passionate ntensity to her country for comfort. Happiness was not to had, since-her doom was always upon her. But at least he could rejoice in her inheritance. So from now onwards he core of her life was Tyrol. Little by little she increased s riches ; built great castles ; fulfilled her promises to the nee hostile peasants ; kept the Barons in order and dealt

'sely with the unruly cities of Lombardy. Soon she became II extraordinarily dominant figure, the equal of the greatest

en of her day. This was the situation when her villainous usband, sneering openly at her ape-like face and her poor

isshapen body, declared his passion for the lovely Agnes On Flavor, which folly so provoked the long-suffering

lidless that she caused him to be thrown out of the country.

us it came about that Tyrol was again in the market, and he crowned heads of Europe lusted after it once more. The rally Emperor Louis no sooner heard of these events than he

lved that his son, the fair-haired Brandenburger, should mediately marry the Duchess, and, sending for him,

'e orders to that effect. The latter cried out in horror.

id his father not know that she had an ape's face, a grey bby skin, and horrible painted hands ?• She was Margarete ultaseh, the ugly Duchess. But the Emperor besought lm to be wise. The time for love was short, he grumbled.

what profit were youth and beauty, seeing that they pass Way like the wind ? More desirable far was. Tyrol, that fair

lid in the mountains ; a prize which should entice any man, commanding as it slid the easiest route to Italy. . . We now conic to the record of the second mssniage and subsequent adventures of the unfortunate Duchess, which we dare not hint at for fear of robbing the reader of some of the delight and surprise which Dr. Feuchtwanger's powerful book will give him.

In Die Sunden Don Alfonso's des Weisen : by Christian

Huidekoper (Munich, Musarion Verlag), we have a novel dealing with Alfonso X.,known as "The Wise," who, permeated with Mohammedan culture, found leisure not only to write history and poetry with unflagging delight but to ecmpile laws and charters in the Castilian tongue, to lose himself in astronomy and to dabble in mysterious occult sciences. lie was, it will be remembered, the stepbrother of our Eleanor of Castile. Strange. characters appear and disappear all through this book, which leaves on the mind a memorable picture of Alfonso X. and thirteenth-century Spain.

In Der Aufruhr urn den Junker Ernst : by Jakob Wasserman (Berlin, S. Fischer), we find ourselves in the midst of witch persecutions in Bavaria towards the middle of the sixteenth century. The Bishop of Wiirzburg, a gloomy old man, is absorbed in the extermination of witchcraft, aided and abetted by the highly unpleasant Pater Gropp. So convinced was he of the power of Lucifer that he scarce dared venture outside his ancient palace, where day by day he brooded over long lists of suspected persons, made out with devilish cunning by the inflexible Jesuit. These suspects must at all costs be got rid of. After burning there was no returning. Better far that a few innocent should perish than that any of the guilty should go free. So it came about that distrust fell upon the Bishop's own nephew, the Junker Ernst, a comely youth, who, meek enough and knowing no evil, was loved by the mean people for the magic of his talcs. These he told to all and sundry in the fields and in the ways, thereby luring men from their labours, and stirring their sluggish souls with unknown delight. 'there was something not wholly earthly about him, said the Bishop. It was obvious that he was in league with the powers of evil. Moreover, Pater Gropp whispered that people had issued from the Church to listen to him, which statement sufficed to cause his arrest. However, it is pleasant to record that Junker Ernst was saved from an untimely death by a rebellion of the children who had loved his " proper pleasant talking " so dearly. Very different to this slight and charming Erzahlung is Perpetua : by Wilhelm von Scholz (Berlin, Horan-Verlag), which tells of the fate of the twin sisters Breitenschnitt, who, born and bred in the ancient and Imperial city of Augsburg towards the beginning of the sixteenth century, were both gifted with spiritual sight, which enigmatic power revealed to them a thousand truths unguessed at by their neighbours. This illumination --so strangely were the two sisters connected with each other —never failed to bring them together at critical moments. Yet it proved to the one a blessing and to the other a curse. Maria became a cloistered Abbess renowned throughout the country for her miracles and ecstatic visions, whereas Katharina, whom she so loved, was handed over to the spiritual tribunal and burned as a witch, her pagan instincts having prompted her to penetrate too far into the mysteries of the older world. This is a suggestive and exciting book. All through it we arc conscious of the " religion of darkness struggling against the kingdom of light." Herr von Scholz throws us into a world utterly unlike our own, but such is his power of imaginative writing that it is necessary for us to remind ourselves from time to time that this is fiction and not