The People of Seldwyla: Part I
May 2024 · Marchen Press
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If one disregards Goethe's writings, the best German book there is: what actually remains of German prose literature that deserves to be read again and again? Lichtenberg's aphorisms, the first book of Jung-Stilling's Lebensgeschichte, Adalbert Stifter's Nachsommer and Gottfried Keller's The people of Seldwyla, - and that will be the end of it for the time being. Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human ("Menschliches, Allzumenschliches") The People of Seldwyla (Die Leute von Seldwyla) is a two-part novella cycle. This two-part collection of novellas is regarded as a masterpiece of 19th-century German narrative art and is representative of the poetic realism style. The first five novellas, Part I, were written by Keller between 1853 and 1855 in Berlin, and they were published in 1856 by the Vieweg Verlag. The subsequent five novellas, Part II, were composed in several stages between 1860 and 1875, primarily during Keller's tenure as State Secretary in Zurich. It comprises ten "life portraits" (the working title during the Berlin phase), interconnected by a shared setting—the fictional Swiss town of Seldwyla. With the exception of "Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe," an adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy, the Seldwyla stories are comedies in novella form, characterized by a strong satirical and grotesque element. Two of the novellas, "Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe" and "Kleider machen Leute," hold a place in world literature and are among the most widely read narratives in German-language literature. They have been adapted into films and operas multiple times, translated into numerous languages, and are available in an extensive array of editions. Here in one of Keller's greatest works, he weaves a satirical and vivid portrait of the fictional Swiss town of Seldwyla and its idiosyncratic inhabitants. Keller presents Seldwyla as a town rich in communal wealth, but populated by citizens who are perpetually impoverished and perpetually merry, living off the community's resources with a carefree, almost hedonistic disregard for conventional work ethics and financial prudence. The town's unique social dynamics are dominated by a youthful aristocracy who indulge in a lifestyle sustained by credit and outside labor, engaging in an endless cycle of debt and frivolity. The narrative is interspersed with anecdotes and vivid character sketches that bring to life the peculiar customs and social behaviors of the Seldwylers. These include their penchant for political agitation, seasonal celebrations with young wine, and a penchant for idle but ingenious schemes that sustain their paradoxical existence. In stories such as "Pankraz the Schmoller" and "Romeo and Juliet in the Village," Keller explores themes of human folly, resilience, and the inexorable transition from youthful exuberance to the sober realities of aging. Pankraz, the Schmoller:Pankraz, der Schmoller is the first story in Die Leute von Seldwyla, which was published in Braunschweig in 1856. The title character works his way up from a day thief in Seldwyla to a colonel in the French legion, but is unable to find happiness. Romeo and Juliet in the village: In this tale, Keller adapted a true incident that he had taken from a newspaper report. Two neighboring farmers live together in harmony until they begin to quarrel over a small piece of land. Frau Regel Amrain and her youngest: Frau Regel Amrain und ihr Jüngster is a story from the cycle of novellas Die Leute von Seldwyla, published in Braunschweig in 1856. It is about the education of a boy to become an upright man and citizen. Franz Duncker had the text printed in the Berlin Volks-Zeitung in 1855. Mr Amrain, a former button-maker, had mixed with the speculators of Seldwyl and bought a quarry on the outskirts of the small town. He never quarried any stone, however, but merely speculated on the new property. When a conservative financier saw through the liberal Mr Amrain, he withdrew his capital from the quarry. Mr Amrain then left his wife Regula and their three children in Seldwyla and left for North America. The Three Righteous Comb Makers (Die drei gerechten Kammacher):The story is about three German journeymen craftsmen who work for a master craftsman in Seldwyla, all three of them hardworking, thrifty, frugal, calculating, and conflict-averse. Despite this - or perhaps because of it - they become fierce rivals: each wants to buy the comb-making business, and each wants to marry the same wealthy maiden to do so. A decisive race ensues, which ends badly for two of the Mirror, the kitten (Spiegel das Kätzchen): An animal fable within the tradition of the classical-romantic art fairy tale. His tomcat "Spiegel" (Mirror in German), so called because of his shiny fur, is inclined to philosophical contemplation like Puss Murr and, like Reineke Fuchs (a famous fairy tale by Goethe), possesses the gift of saving his head through tall tales and cunningly contrived intrigues. This novella is one of Keller's best-known tales and has been adapted several times. This modern critical reader's translation from the original German includes supplementary materials that bring Keller's life and impact to life. Nietzsche considered Keller to be one of the greatest living poets of his time. However, his works are rarely found in other languages, so most people today are unaware of who he was or why he was important. This edition remedies that situation by providing a clear, accessible version of Keller's original German writing and offering insight into his broader ideas and the philosophical landscape in which he operated. Working directly from Keller's manuscripts, this new translation delivers literary excellence and scholarly depth with amplifying materials. Readers will discover not only Keller's powerful voice but also the philosophical currents that shaped an entire era of German thought. The edition includes an illuminating afterword tracing Keller's intellectual relationship with Nietzsche, revealing the fascinating dialogue between two of the period's most influential minds. A comprehensive timeline connects the major events of Keller's life with his published works, and a detailed index provides an authoritative guide to his complete writings. Together, these materials provide newcomers and serious readers with everything needed to appreciate one of literature's most overlooked figures.
About the author
One of Nietzsche's favorite living poets (the only real Swiss poet in his opinion, Keller was a major Swiss poet and writer, Keller is best known for his novel "Green Henry" (German: "Der grüne Heinrich"). His work is representative of the Realist movement, which sought to depict life and society as they were. Keller's stories often reflect the conflict between individual creative drives and the constraints of society. His novel "The People of Seldwyla" was one of Nietzsche's favorite.
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