The Orphan Stone: The Minnesinger Dream of Reich

(Hardback)

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Americans have long viewed the Middle Ages with an emphasis on Chaucer and the French and Latin traditions. As a result, the later developments of European literature and history often take us by surprise. From our perspective, the Reformation, the birth of capitalism, and the new humanism appear as if from nowhere. The part missing is the history and literature of the German Middle Ages. While German and French publications in this field are common, the world of the German Middle Ages has not been addressed in English for many years. Filling the gap for non-German speakers, The Orphan Stone blends history and literature in a strong narrative line to portray the critical years of the medieval Reich through the eyes of the poets of the holy Roman Empire--the Minnesinger. Modelled after the French Troubadours, the Minnesinger created brilliant lyrics and narratives that are the foundation of much of German literature and thought. Familiarity with their work and the historical context in which they operated is essential to fully understanding the culture of Freud, Wagner, Mann, Rilke, and writers as diverse as Musil and Kundera. Even the Nazis borrowed symbolism and pageantry from the Minnesinger in their distortions of history. In The Orphan Stone, the Minnesinger come alive as individuals and shake us with their sophistication about men and women in love, and with their ethical sense and human understanding. Two in particular, Walther von der Vogelweide and Gottfried von Strassburg, are acknowledged, along with Goethe, as the finest poetic talents in the German language. The Minnesinger created Tristan, Parzival, the Nibelungs, Kriemhild, and Poor Henry. They also endowed a jewel in the imperial crown, the Orphan Stone of history, with symbolic powers to elevate and ennoble all people on whom it shined. Along with this fable, The Orphan Stone contains many of our most cherished stories and universal myths which were dreamed by the Minnesinger of the medieval Reich.

Reviews

Much has been written about the French and Italian traditions' influence upon Middle Age developments; but surprisingly little has revealed German Middle Age traditions and influences. This lack of information results in some mysteries and puzzles which are addressed and solved in The Orphan Stone, a survey of German Middle Ages literary achievement. . . . The Orphan Stone examines both the individuals and the creations which fostered the movement, providing numerous quotes in German and in English to accompany analyses of the works and their creators. Background on text reconstruction challenges, story patterns and traditions, and German customs and history accompany in-depth analyses of individual works. The result is an important survey which will prove essential for any advanced student of German history of literature.-The Midwest Book Review
This is an excellent historical and literary study of the influence of 12th- and 13th- century German medieval poets on political and societal attitudes. Berleth begins with Emperor Frederick Barbarossa's promotion of the French troubadour tradition to turn warring knights from fighting to the ideals of courtly love, or minne. He continues with thorough descriptions of the Minnesinger poets, including examples of their work in Middle High German and in translation. Many references to contemporary German scholars are included. The book definitely meets a need, as little has been written on this topic for the English-speaking student. Recommended for academic libraries.-Library Journal
"This is an excellent historical and literary study of the influence of 12th- and 13th- century German medieval poets on political and societal attitudes. Berleth begins with Emperor Frederick Barbarossa's promotion of the French troubadour tradition to turn warring knights from fighting to the ideals of courtly love, or minne. He continues with thorough descriptions of the Minnesinger poets, including examples of their work in Middle High German and in translation. Many references to contemporary German scholars are included. The book definitely meets a need, as little has been written on this topic for the English-speaking student. Recommended for academic libraries."-Library Journal
"Much has been written about the French and Italian traditions' influence upon Middle Age developments; but surprisingly little has revealed German Middle Age traditions and influences. This lack of information results in some mysteries and puzzles which are addressed and solved in The Orphan Stone, a survey of German Middle Ages literary achievement. . . . The Orphan Stone examines both the individuals and the creations which fostered the movement, providing numerous quotes in German and in English to accompany analyses of the works and their creators. Background on text reconstruction challenges, story patterns and traditions, and German customs and history accompany in-depth analyses of individual works. The result is an important survey which will prove essential for any advanced student of German history of literature."-The Midwest Book Review

Author Bio

RICHARD J. BERLETH is an Associate Professor of Communications at St. Francis College. He is the author of The Twilight Lords: The Elizabethan Conquest of Ireland (1979) and has published numerous articles on English Literature, World Literature, and Communications. In addition, Dr. Berleth is also an advertising and marketing director. Before returning to teaching in 1986, he was an executive with Simon & Schuster and McGraw-Hill.