Friedrich Schiller : drama, thought, and politics /

This is a general study of Schiller's dramas, poetry, theoretical writing and short prose, written without particular biographical emphasis and with consistently interesting use of scholarly sources in footnotes. The book jacket reproduces Simanoviz's dreamy and popular Schiller portrait. Quotations are in German, supplemented by excellent original translations. There are several earlier studies in English, two by H.B. Garland (London, 1949; 1969) and one in the "Twayne World Authors" series by John D. Simons (CH, Mar'82). Simons provides particularly good formal analysis of Schiller's poetry. As the most recent Schiller study in English, Sharpe's book serves the necessary function of integrating new scholarly insights about an author whose reputation is better known than his works. Sharpe offers solid general discussion of every drama and indeed of most items published by Schiller. She shows special strength in analyzing his philosophical works and in redefining Schiller's position between Enlightenment and Romanticism, between his German and non-German publics. Useful for students at all levels and a nice standard resource, this is a competent book. Strongly recommended.-E. Glass, Rosemont College