Autobiography Elements of the Novel by Peter Hartling “Hölderlin”

Abstract

Natalya S. Leonova (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation)

This article aims at considering autobiographical elements in the historical and biographical novel by Peter Hartling “Hölderlin.” P. Hartling narrates about the outstanding poet of German Romanticism – Johannes Christian Friedrich Hölderlin. Romanticism is a significant epoch in the history of the formation of German literature, to which many modern German writers have shown interest. The return to the past historical epoch is seen as an artistic device, with the help of which the authors cover those problems of literature and creativity that are relevant at all times. For Hartling himself, the image of Hölderlin is of particular importance – the writer was the chairman of the literary society named after the German poet. The genre of a romanized biography, or historical and biographical novel, the interest for which developed in the second half of the XX-early XXI century is relevant subject of research. Talking about the life of Hölderlin, Hartling demonstrates the interest of modern writers to the literary heritage of the great poet of romanticism, which was not appreciated by contemporaries. At the same time when talking of Hölderlin, Hartling introduces autobiographical elements into the novel, and draws parallels with his own life. Such techniques give the reader a more complete look at the author of the work, allow immersing in the circle of the writer’s interests and understanding those questions of creativity that are of interest to the author.

Key words: historical and biographical novel, autobiography, German Romanticism; Peter Hartling; Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin.

DOI 10.23683/1995-0640-2018-1-47-51