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The Warwolf: A Peasant Chronicle of the Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years War, fought between 1618 and 1648, was a ruthless struggle for political and religious control of central Europe. Engulfing most of present-day Germany, the war claimed at least ten million lives. The lengthy conflict was particularly hard on the general population, as thousands of undisciplined mercenaries serving Sweden, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and various German principalities, robbed, murdered, and pillaged communities; disease spread out of control and starvation became commonplace. In The Warwolf, Hermann Löns’ acclaimed historical novel, the tragedy and horrors of war in general, and these times in particular are revealed. The Warwolf, based on the author’s careful research, traces the life of Harm Wulf, a land-owning peasant farmer of the northern German heath who realizes after witnessing the murder of neighbors and family at the hands of marauding troops that he has a choice between compromising his morals or succumbing to inevitable torture and death. Despite his desire for peace, Wulf decides to band with his fellow farmers and live like "wolves," fiercely protecting their isolated communities from all intruders. Löns’ brilliant portrayal of the two sides of any person who has faced a moral crisis—in Harm Wulf’s case, whether to kill or be killed—continues to resonate. Originally published in 1910, The Warwolf is presented here for the first time in modern English.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1910
39 people are currently reading
641 people want to read
About the author
Hermann Löns
212 books15 followersHermann Löns (1866 – 1914) was a German journalist and writer. He is most famous as "The Poet of the Heath" for his novels and poems celebrating the people and landscape of the North German moors, particularly the Lüneburg Heath in Lower Saxony. Löns is well known in Germany for his famous folksongs. He was also a hunter, natural historian and conservationist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 12, 2011
The Warwolf is a historical fiction novel set in Germany during the thirty years war in the 1600s. It mainly focuses on one farmer who joins up with a secretive band of his fellow farmers who tired of being robbed, murdered and pillaged by both sides during the war, as well as by various other miscreants, fight back and protect their local heath from outsiders. Anyone who wandered into their domain without good reason, including large groups of soldiers, were taking their lives into their own hands. While the farmers were all for the most part people of good moral character when pushed to the brink they had no choice but to become killers in order to protect themselves, their family and property.
It recounts the horrors, victories, losses these people went through as well as their efforts to salvage a normal, healthy life while all this was going on. It reminded me of a good western in some ways. Lons does a good job at writing it in a way that gets your blood boiling when injustices are done and making you get satisfaction when justice is served to evil doers. I would also have to compliment the translator. I have read a lot of stuff translated from German to English that for whatever reason, even though the languages are very similar, were difficult and not fun to read. But this one does not fall into that category. I just wish more of Lons work was translated into English. Overall this ranks among my favorite historical fiction novels.
It recounts the horrors, victories, losses these people went through as well as their efforts to salvage a normal, healthy life while all this was going on. It reminded me of a good western in some ways. Lons does a good job at writing it in a way that gets your blood boiling when injustices are done and making you get satisfaction when justice is served to evil doers. I would also have to compliment the translator. I have read a lot of stuff translated from German to English that for whatever reason, even though the languages are very similar, were difficult and not fun to read. But this one does not fall into that category. I just wish more of Lons work was translated into English. Overall this ranks among my favorite historical fiction novels.
January 28, 2025
Set during the 30-year war a farmer's fear reaches its limit and he leads a rebellion against the outsiders that have entered his town to loot, rape, and plunder. A continuous bestseller in Germany.
July 28, 2025
One of my uncles traced the family history (German, in the vicinity of Karlsrhue), back to the 1600's, then had to stop because the records had been destroyed. He told me there had been a terrible scorched-earth war: This was the first time I heard of the Thirty Year's War.
Later I began learning about German history, which is so complicated that it is hard to completely sort out. Hermann Lonn's book, The Warwolf, turned up in Endgame 1945, about the last stand of hitlerz nazies (misspelled here so they don't get capitalized on my kindle) when they spread a ficticious story about Warwolves defending the wolf's lair. The Allies took this threat seriously and diverted many resources toward an anticipated battle with the Warwolves, which never materialized.
Back to Hermann Lonn: He died in WW-I, on the frontlines, at age 48. What a loss! Who knows what he might have written later, had he lived. His story, The Warwolf, tackles so well what it must have been like for the people who were caught in its brutal path. Civilians in Sherman's way, during the Civil War, would have gone through something that was far less terrible.
Later I began learning about German history, which is so complicated that it is hard to completely sort out. Hermann Lonn's book, The Warwolf, turned up in Endgame 1945, about the last stand of hitlerz nazies (misspelled here so they don't get capitalized on my kindle) when they spread a ficticious story about Warwolves defending the wolf's lair. The Allies took this threat seriously and diverted many resources toward an anticipated battle with the Warwolves, which never materialized.
Back to Hermann Lonn: He died in WW-I, on the frontlines, at age 48. What a loss! Who knows what he might have written later, had he lived. His story, The Warwolf, tackles so well what it must have been like for the people who were caught in its brutal path. Civilians in Sherman's way, during the Civil War, would have gone through something that was far less terrible.
November 12, 2013
I started reading this for a few reasons: To practice my German, as research for a character in a novel I'm writing, and because of a general interest in narratives about insurgency and outlaws. The "werewolves" of the title refer to German farmers in the 1600s who fought back against the soldiers and knights who were basically pillaging the countryside as they fought each other. After their village is burned and many of the inhabitants killed, Harm Wulf leads the survivors deep into the forest where they build a fortified village and send out raiding parties to attack the soldiers and knights where they least expect it.
This book was written in the early 20th century, so there were some words and phrasing that someone like myself, who learned German in the late 20th century, had some slow-going around. Still, the story remains relevant, both the farmers being driven to insurgency by desperation and the need to secure their loved ones, houses, and living, as well as the aftermath, when someone has spent most of their life fighting and finds it hard to return to "normal" life. An interesting read for anyone interesting in the "outlaw" or "insurgent" narrative, as seen through the lens of medieval Germany filtered through early 20th century Germany.
This book was written in the early 20th century, so there were some words and phrasing that someone like myself, who learned German in the late 20th century, had some slow-going around. Still, the story remains relevant, both the farmers being driven to insurgency by desperation and the need to secure their loved ones, houses, and living, as well as the aftermath, when someone has spent most of their life fighting and finds it hard to return to "normal" life. An interesting read for anyone interesting in the "outlaw" or "insurgent" narrative, as seen through the lens of medieval Germany filtered through early 20th century Germany.
September 24, 2019
This needs to be a movie
August 12, 2020
It was a fast and highly enjoyable read detailing the life of a peasant farmer and his community during the Thirty-Years War, 1618-1648.
Historical fiction isn’t my genre but this book captures the folkish spirit of German life wrenched asunder from torturous death, pestilence and famine during bi-partisan war.
The camaraderie and bandying together for survival during hysterical and grim times is a motif in this novel.
Wolf-rune symbolism is a powerful and continual element in this book.
Also, I detected the Blood and Soil ethos and found a few passages that were precursory National Socialistic.
I loved the Gallows humor and within just the first 7 pages of the book the protagonist’s attitude reflected mine almost eerily.
Highly recommended.
Historical fiction isn’t my genre but this book captures the folkish spirit of German life wrenched asunder from torturous death, pestilence and famine during bi-partisan war.
The camaraderie and bandying together for survival during hysterical and grim times is a motif in this novel.
Wolf-rune symbolism is a powerful and continual element in this book.
Also, I detected the Blood and Soil ethos and found a few passages that were precursory National Socialistic.
I loved the Gallows humor and within just the first 7 pages of the book the protagonist’s attitude reflected mine almost eerily.
Highly recommended.
July 10, 2024
The number of fictional books I've read about the Thirty Years' War? Two. The number of non-fiction books I've read about the Thirty Years' War? Zero. That'll soon change, but here we are with The Warwolf.
It's certainly no Tyll, but it was a decent read. I thought the first half of the book was actually quite good, but the author's writing style started to grate on me a little after that. There's just so much dialogue in this book. Nothing could happen without walls of dialogue. I also found it a little hard to connect with some of the main characters. There's names that get repeated throughout the book, yet it feels as if they have no distinct personality.
Still, the book does a good job of depicting how awful this time period was. And every so often the author writes a passage that really drives that message home: "It was too much for him, having to wade through blood all those years: first up to the ankles, then to the knees, then standing in it waist-deep, and rising ever higher until it was finally up past his chin. Not much more and it would have flowed into his mouth drowning him."
I think if I had maybe tried to get through a non-fiction book about the war before reading this, I would've been able to get into it a little more. But I don't regret reading it, especially because it's a quick read.
It's certainly no Tyll, but it was a decent read. I thought the first half of the book was actually quite good, but the author's writing style started to grate on me a little after that. There's just so much dialogue in this book. Nothing could happen without walls of dialogue. I also found it a little hard to connect with some of the main characters. There's names that get repeated throughout the book, yet it feels as if they have no distinct personality.
Still, the book does a good job of depicting how awful this time period was. And every so often the author writes a passage that really drives that message home: "It was too much for him, having to wade through blood all those years: first up to the ankles, then to the knees, then standing in it waist-deep, and rising ever higher until it was finally up past his chin. Not much more and it would have flowed into his mouth drowning him."
I think if I had maybe tried to get through a non-fiction book about the war before reading this, I would've been able to get into it a little more. But I don't regret reading it, especially because it's a quick read.
July 14, 2011
This is an English translation of a German historical novel/biography of Harm Wulf, who was a peasant and solder living in the German forests during the 30 years war (1617/8-1648). It tells the story of the war from the perspective of a deep woods village that is affected by roving armies and brigands in the war. It is a violent book that shows how the town developed and came to resist predations and successfully made it through the war. It is a very good story and server as a beach book in the summer of 2006. The historical basis is also interesting and shows how different Europe was as the middle ages transitioned through the wars of religion into modern Europe. It is a violent world that is very different from the stereotyped common views of what peasant life was like then.
September 17, 2022
Легкое чтиво, в центре сюжета которого - древняя практика образования mannerbunde как естественный ответ на вызовы военного времени: грабежи, поджоги и мародерство. По сюжету, в ответ на надругательства, члены крестьянской общины самоорганизуются в полу-мистический орден вервольфов и начинают жесткую герилью под знаменем волчьего крюка против каждого, кто бы ни посягнул на их честь и землю. Когда наступает мир, партизаны понимают, что уже изменились навсегда.
Трогают детали из народного быта и поверий немецких земель: к примеру, кто бы догадался что свиристели традиционно считались вестниками чумы и смерти, или что ольха - это верный знак близости ручья?
Трогают детали из народного быта и поверий немецких земель: к примеру, кто бы догадался что свиристели традиционно считались вестниками чумы и смерти, или что ольха - это верный знак близости ручья?
October 23, 2017
One of the best depictions of war from the POV of the civilians caught in the middle that I've ever read.
November 28, 2023
Wahrlich außergewöhnlich. Dieses Buch verfolgt die Leiden und Mühen eines Bauern, seiner Bruderschaft und seiner gesamten Gemeinschaft, während sie sich durch den Dreißigjährigen Krieg in einem norddeutschen Sumpfgebiet kämpfen. Es heißt töten oder getötet werden, und das lernt er schon früh im Buche auf die harte Tour. Der Bauer lebt seit Urzeiten auf diesem Land und muß versuchen, seine Familie, seine Freunde und sein Dorf in Sicherheit zu bringen, während fremde Kriegsmänner jahrzehntelang wüten.
Gesellschaftliche Regeln müssen vorübergehend gebrochen werden (auf dem Höhepunkt des Krieges, als so viele Männer gestorben sind, daß sie den Frauen zahlenmäßig weit überlegen sind, übernehmen sie für kurze Zeit bestimmte männliche Aufgaben wie das Pflügen, während die verbleibenden Männer mit den vagabundierenden Kriminellen beschäftigt sind, die ständig versuchen, in den Sumpf einzudringen). Doch mit der Zeit stellt sich die Ordnung wieder ein, und tief im Sumpf, in den sich die Dorfbewohner geflüchtet haben, wächst und gedeiht ein neues Leben, das in seiner Brutalität und Gefährlichkeit, aber auch in seiner ursprünglichen Schönheit fast steinzeitlich ist. Es ist ein Leben, in dem jeder Mann in Wehr und Waffen stehen muß, in dem der kleine häusliche Luxus, den die Frauen einst kannten, verschwunden ist und in dem die nackten Notwendigkeiten des Lebens in ihrem Schrecken und ihrer Schönheit gegenübergestellt werden müssen.
Die in diesem Buche verwendete Sprache ist archaisch, aber außergewöhnlich. Ein solches Buch könnte heute nicht mehr geschrieben werden, da weder der Inhalt noch die Sprache veröffentlicht werden würden. Sein Stil ist zwar gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber er macht das Buch zu einem viel reicheren Erlebnis und spricht für Löns' künstlerisches Können.
Wirklich ausgezeichnet.
Gesellschaftliche Regeln müssen vorübergehend gebrochen werden (auf dem Höhepunkt des Krieges, als so viele Männer gestorben sind, daß sie den Frauen zahlenmäßig weit überlegen sind, übernehmen sie für kurze Zeit bestimmte männliche Aufgaben wie das Pflügen, während die verbleibenden Männer mit den vagabundierenden Kriminellen beschäftigt sind, die ständig versuchen, in den Sumpf einzudringen). Doch mit der Zeit stellt sich die Ordnung wieder ein, und tief im Sumpf, in den sich die Dorfbewohner geflüchtet haben, wächst und gedeiht ein neues Leben, das in seiner Brutalität und Gefährlichkeit, aber auch in seiner ursprünglichen Schönheit fast steinzeitlich ist. Es ist ein Leben, in dem jeder Mann in Wehr und Waffen stehen muß, in dem der kleine häusliche Luxus, den die Frauen einst kannten, verschwunden ist und in dem die nackten Notwendigkeiten des Lebens in ihrem Schrecken und ihrer Schönheit gegenübergestellt werden müssen.
Die in diesem Buche verwendete Sprache ist archaisch, aber außergewöhnlich. Ein solches Buch könnte heute nicht mehr geschrieben werden, da weder der Inhalt noch die Sprache veröffentlicht werden würden. Sein Stil ist zwar gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber er macht das Buch zu einem viel reicheren Erlebnis und spricht für Löns' künstlerisches Können.
Wirklich ausgezeichnet.
November 6, 2020
A clear and direct story of humble people living, loving and fighting for their lives amid the shifting battles of the 30 Years' War. It takes a while to get used to the translation and rhythm, but well worth the read!
July 12, 2025
Wer einen guten Roman über Wehrhaftigkeit, Selbstjustiz und den 30 jährigen Krieg lesen will, in fast archaischem, teils weihevollen Deutsch ist hier genau richtig.
"Helf dir selber, so helfet dir unser Herre Gott!"
"Helf dir selber, so helfet dir unser Herre Gott!"
January 24, 2020
This was very good. It reads less like historical fiction, and more like a heroic epic. Think King Arthur, or Grimm's Fairy Tales. The Thirty Years War was a terrible time for peasants and farmers, as armies from the leading powers rampaged through Germany with little care for who lived there. Displaced villagers turned into roaming bands of marauders, and life was cheap. It resembled the prophesied war of all against all more than anything anyone had ever seen.
Out of this rose a man, known as the Warwolf, who took it upon himself to protect his farm and the farms of his neighbors. Warwolf is a hero in the classical sense. Despite the epic tone, the book grabbed and held my interest.
Out of this rose a man, known as the Warwolf, who took it upon himself to protect his farm and the farms of his neighbors. Warwolf is a hero in the classical sense. Despite the epic tone, the book grabbed and held my interest.
March 13, 2023
Ein Buch über den 30-jährigen Krieg ist natürlich keine leichte Kost. Trotzdem fand ich das Level an Rasismus und Menschenfeindlichkeit gegenüber allen, die nicht „von hier“ sind extrem unverdaulich. Die Wehrwölfe verteidigen nicht einfach nur ihr Leben, Hab und Gut, sie entscheiden wer als Mensch gilt und leben darf. Dabei entgeht ihnen offenbar vollends, dass sie ebenso so morden und rauben wie die Kriegstruppen, gegen die sie sich vermeindlich verreidigen.
Es wundert mich wenig, dass dieses Buch unter den Nazis beliebt war.
Es wundert mich wenig, dass dieses Buch unter den Nazis beliebt war.
May 17, 2018
A book written in 1910 about the Thirty Years War of 1618, translated into English. What could go wrong?
Well, it was pretty boring. I had been hoping for a novel that would make me feel the big cultural difference across the centuries, kind of like a Ken Follett novel (though I detest him). Instead it just felt like I was reading about a bunch of dudes from the 1900s.
Good title, though!
Well, it was pretty boring. I had been hoping for a novel that would make me feel the big cultural difference across the centuries, kind of like a Ken Follett novel (though I detest him). Instead it just felt like I was reading about a bunch of dudes from the 1900s.
Good title, though!
April 13, 2008
Although the writer is known for his animal stories. This story isn`t actually about a werewolf.
But about a rural community who is fed up with constant raidings so they decide to arm and defend themselves.
But about a rural community who is fed up with constant raidings so they decide to arm and defend themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2025
Tematica celui de-al Treilea Reich niciodată nu mi-a fost foarte aproape inimii, am fost un copil al antichității dacă e să aleg un spațiu temporal care ar descrie fascinația mea față de trecut. Și totuși sunt elemente și personaje de care erau fascinați și naziștii și eu; unul din așa personaje a fost Hermann Löns - mort în primul război mondial, jurnalist “freelancer”, un romantic de măsura lui Jünger și Heine (doar că cu mult mai puțin talent).
Am zis să scriu această mică introducere ca să clarific că textul ce urmează nu e despre Germania nazistă, despre germani în generali, sau despre un aspect al istoriei ce ține doar de război; mai degrabă e despre libertate, despre cum și ce presupune legătura cu strămoșii, natura și cum spațiul geografic poate naște în noi același conflict iar și iar. Spor!
Care e cartea de căpătîi a celui de-al Treilea Reich? Aici, bineînțeles, ne apare ca răspuns evident „Mein Kampf” al copiei lui Charlie Chaplin cu mustață. Cunoscătorii mai sofisticați își vor aminti de “mitul secolului al XX-lea” de Alfred Rosenberg. Nu voi intra în polemici - „Lupta Mea” a înlocuit într-adevăr Biblia în Germania nazistă, iar scrierile lui Rosenberg au fost publicate în ediții uriașe. Dar să fim sinceri - puțini oameni citeau pe atunci aceste scrieri obscure și plictisitoare. La fel ca toți oamenii normali, germanii din acea epocă preferau ficțiunea decât gunoaiele politice și filozofii plictisitoare. Și în acest domeniu, Reich-ul german avea un bestseller pe care orice nazist decent îl citise. Era romanul „Vârcolacul” de Hermann Löns. Țin să menționez că titlul în germană are la mijloc un joc de cuvinte - “Der Wehrwolf”, Wehr e un particul din germană folosit în termeni precum FeuerWehr (Fire Brigade în engleză , sau pompier în romînă), e un arhaism care din ce am găsit eu prin dicționare etimologice ar avea o rădăcină indo-europeana; cum n-ar fi, in Germania medievală se folosea drept particula care desemna un fel de aparator, cineva cu atribute de luptator în numele binelui comun. Okay, ne-am clarificat cu Wehr, acum ce ține de Wer - căci dacă nu clarific particula Wer, titluluri nu au sens, atît in romînă (Vîrcolacul), cît și în engleză (The Werewolf, deși varianta în engleză recent găsită de mine are titlul The Warwolf). “Were” acesta pe care îl găsim în englezescul Werewolf, e un arhaism pentru om, de aici si Were-wolf și nu Human-Wolf ori Man-Wolf; și e un arhaism întratît de vechi încît îl putem găsi în proto-germană, pe vremea cînd o grămadă de limbi precum olandeza (neerlandeza), germana, limbile nordice europene, engleza și multe altele din familia asta germanica, multe moarte, erau decît o singură limbă. Deci astfel se face ca Löns și-a intitulat cartea Omul Lup - protectorul comunității, folosind un truc de care știu toti poeții: “nu pierde cerneala că e scumpă” (glumesc), “cuvintele se nasc prin noi, nu de noi”. Deja 10 puncte din oficiu romanului.
Hermann Löns a devenit scriitor în mare parte din întâmplare. S-a născut în 1866 în cea mai obișnuită familie prusacă. Tatăl său era profesor de școală, mama lui era casnică și avea 14 frați și surori (cinci au murit la o vârstă fragedă – duhul vremii era veșnic flamînd). Micul Herman era foarte bolnăvicios și chiar nu-i plăcea să meargă la școală. Însă avea o pasiune deocheată: alergarea prin pădurile și câmpurile din jur. Tatăl său se plîngea ca va crește și va deveni un prost care nu ar ști decât să-și facă de rușine familia.
De-a lungul timpului, familia Löns s-a mutat în Westafalia, unde capului familiei i s-a dat o poziție bună. Herman a fost repartizat la o universitate locală pentru a studia medicina. Dar, în loc de anatomie, a preferat să studieze structura tavernelor locale. Expulzat dintr-o universitate, băiatul nostru a intrat imediat în alta. Ei bine, nu că era fascinat tare de studiu, dar a încercat. Nu a absolvit niciodată niciuna dintre numeroasele sale universități. Și cum te poți concentra pe studiu când sunt atât de multe lucruri interesante în jur? Dacă, sa zicem, un polițist merge pe stradă, cu siguranță ar trebui să sari și să-l lovești cu pumnul în fața lui grasă. Lămpile cu gaz ard pe stradă? - Trebuie sparte pentru a nu deranja somnul oamenilor cinstiți.
Un alcoolic, un huligan inveterat și un antisocial înrăit sunt epitete de neinvidiat pentru un tânăr dintr-o țară în care Ordnung și disciplina au fost ridicate la rangul de religie. Dar Hermann Lons nu era nicidecum un degenerat. Problema lui era că Lens era un bărbat dintr-o altă eră. O epocă în care nu existau căi ferate și vapoare cu aburi, în care cerurile orașelor nu erau încă afumate de hornurile urâte ale fabricilor. O epocă în care țăranul german, stăpân al curții și al pământului său, a existat în armonie cu natura. Timp care se scurgea pentru totdeauna, devorat de Molohul industrializării. Și doar câțiva rebeli au găsit puterea de a apăra Vechea Ordine.
Calea unui rebel este întotdeauna dificilă. Și nu există finaluri fericite. Acest lucru s-a întâmplat cu Löns. Nu avea profesie; în tinerețe nu a învățat practic nimic. Dar Herman avea un talent înnăscut, fie de la Dumnezeu, fie din natura sa natală, care i-a inspirat talentul de a scrie. S-a angajat la un ziar și și-a luat propria sa mică rubrică. Şase luni mai târziu a fost concediat de la serviciu pentru beţie. S-a angajat ca redactor și s-a trezit din nou pe stradă când a apărut la birou după o noapte de ebrietate alcoolică. Destul - a decis Löns. Ajunge munca conform unui program și venirea la serviciu până la ora 8 dimineața. Și a devenit, așa cum s-ar spune acum, un freelancer.
Și atunci au început să se întâmple lucrurile. Hermann Löns a publicat activ sub diferite pseudonime în ziarele hanovriene. Și-a cumpărat o casă în pustietate, unde dispărea pentru săptămâni întregi, rătăcind cu un pistol și un câine credincios. A scris articole, poezii, nuvele despre animale și vânătoare. Burgerul german din zonele urbane tânjea după natura sa natală, pe care Löns o glorifica. Dar Herman înțelegera că opera sa principală nu fusese încă scrisă. Momentul a venit în 1910. Atunci se publica romanul lui istoric cu titlul amenințător „Vârcolacul”.
Intriga romanului este simplă și clară: secolul al 17-lea Germania este sfâșiată de Războiul de 30 de ani. Hoardele de tâlhari de orice tip terorizează satele germane, jefuiesc, violează și ucid. Un simplu țăran Harm Wulf, un tip cu o dispoziție dură, dar corectă, își pierde familia în timpul unuia dintre raidurile soldaților brutali. Ajunge! Acum nu mai este un „bauer” inofensiv, ci comandantul unui detașament de partizani. Și răzbunarea lui va fi severă. La fel ca lupii sălbatici, sătenii rebeli nu cunosc frica și nu se supun forței. Ei construiesc o cetate pe un deal înalt și resping din când în când atacurile celor care îndrăznesc să încalce libertatea țărănească. „Vârcolacii” înving inamicul, dar lupta este grea și sângeroasă. „Vârcolacii” nu iau prizonieri, ci îi spânzură de copaci și îi îneacă de vii în mlaștini - o represalie crudă îi așteaptă pe vandali și tâlhari. Când pacea vine în sfârșit, Harm Wulf, un bătrân bolnav și decrepit, abia se poate ridica în picioare. Dar el a apărat libertatea germanului de a trăi pe pământul său conform propriei legi.
„Vârcolacul” a câștigat imediat o popularitate enormă pe piața germană de carte. Dar cea mai frumoasă oră a romanului a sunat mult mai târziu. Lens însuși nu mai trăia la acea vreme - scriitorul, care s-a oferit voluntar pe front în 1914, a murit în prima bătălie. De atunci a trecut multă apă pe sub pod. Vechea Germanie a căzut, iar clasicii recunoscuți ai literaturii au fost înlocuiți de inovatori ambițioși precum Remarque, Feuchtwanger și Hesse. Dar problema este că o parte semnificativă a societății germane, aceiași „oameni profundi”, nu erau foarte mulțumiti de noua literatură. Și chiar de-a dreptul frustrați. Îi irita mesajul ei pacifist-conciliator, cu o cercetare sufletească dureroasă și cu psihologismul lor sofisticat.
Așa că, când poporul german profund a ajuns la putere în 1933, avea nevoie de o carte care să poată fi desemnată drept simbol. O carte prin intermediul căreia ar putea fi educate noile generații de tineri germani. „Werwolf” a devenit o astfel de carte. Se potrivea cu rolul unei cărți de program al ideologiei naziste din toate punctele de vedere. Hermann Löns a idealizat lupta armată și a idolatrizat lumea patriarhală a țăranului - naziștii au făcut același lucru, plănuind să reinstaleze orășenii în comunele rurale în spațiul de locuit recucerit de la „Untermensch-ii” slavi.
Până în 1938, Vârcolacul depășise 500.000 de exemplare vândute. Aproximativ un milion au fost tipărite înainte de sfârșitul celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial. Romanul a fost foarte recomandat pentru studiu de către băieții din hitlerjugend și formațiunile de apărare aeriană care păzeau cerurile peste orașele Germaniei - pentru a folosi cuvinte artistice, pentru a trezi în sufletele tinerilor pasiunea pentru războiul total.
Și nu întâmplător detașamentele de partizani, formate chiar la sfârșitul războiului de liderii Reich-ului în agonie, au primit numele de „Vârcolacii”.
Reich-ul de o mie de ani a durat doar 13 ani și niciun partizan nu a reușit să-l salveze. Într-o oarecare măsură, romanul lui Löns „a murit” odată cu el. În primii ani de după război, a fost chiar interzisă publicarea. Puțin mai târziu, interdicția a fost ridicată și Werwolf a trecut prin multe retipăriri. Dar până astăzi, pentru Germania modernă și pentru lumea modernă în ansamblu, unde domină ideile de toleranță, servilism și pacifism, rămâne o lucrare extrem de incomodă, iar Hermann Löns este un scriitor incomod. „Viața înseamnă moarte, a fi înseamnă a muri!”, „Un german adevărat ucide un tâlhar înainte ca acesta să ridice toporul deasupra sa” - astfel de mesaje în opera lui Löns, după standardele de astăzi, se învecinează cu extremistul de dreapta. Dar cine știe? - dacă vor deveni din nou relevante în viitor întro nouă rotire a ciclului istoric?
Am zis să scriu această mică introducere ca să clarific că textul ce urmează nu e despre Germania nazistă, despre germani în generali, sau despre un aspect al istoriei ce ține doar de război; mai degrabă e despre libertate, despre cum și ce presupune legătura cu strămoșii, natura și cum spațiul geografic poate naște în noi același conflict iar și iar. Spor!
Care e cartea de căpătîi a celui de-al Treilea Reich? Aici, bineînțeles, ne apare ca răspuns evident „Mein Kampf” al copiei lui Charlie Chaplin cu mustață. Cunoscătorii mai sofisticați își vor aminti de “mitul secolului al XX-lea” de Alfred Rosenberg. Nu voi intra în polemici - „Lupta Mea” a înlocuit într-adevăr Biblia în Germania nazistă, iar scrierile lui Rosenberg au fost publicate în ediții uriașe. Dar să fim sinceri - puțini oameni citeau pe atunci aceste scrieri obscure și plictisitoare. La fel ca toți oamenii normali, germanii din acea epocă preferau ficțiunea decât gunoaiele politice și filozofii plictisitoare. Și în acest domeniu, Reich-ul german avea un bestseller pe care orice nazist decent îl citise. Era romanul „Vârcolacul” de Hermann Löns. Țin să menționez că titlul în germană are la mijloc un joc de cuvinte - “Der Wehrwolf”, Wehr e un particul din germană folosit în termeni precum FeuerWehr (Fire Brigade în engleză , sau pompier în romînă), e un arhaism care din ce am găsit eu prin dicționare etimologice ar avea o rădăcină indo-europeana; cum n-ar fi, in Germania medievală se folosea drept particula care desemna un fel de aparator, cineva cu atribute de luptator în numele binelui comun. Okay, ne-am clarificat cu Wehr, acum ce ține de Wer - căci dacă nu clarific particula Wer, titluluri nu au sens, atît in romînă (Vîrcolacul), cît și în engleză (The Werewolf, deși varianta în engleză recent găsită de mine are titlul The Warwolf). “Were” acesta pe care îl găsim în englezescul Werewolf, e un arhaism pentru om, de aici si Were-wolf și nu Human-Wolf ori Man-Wolf; și e un arhaism întratît de vechi încît îl putem găsi în proto-germană, pe vremea cînd o grămadă de limbi precum olandeza (neerlandeza), germana, limbile nordice europene, engleza și multe altele din familia asta germanica, multe moarte, erau decît o singură limbă. Deci astfel se face ca Löns și-a intitulat cartea Omul Lup - protectorul comunității, folosind un truc de care știu toti poeții: “nu pierde cerneala că e scumpă” (glumesc), “cuvintele se nasc prin noi, nu de noi”. Deja 10 puncte din oficiu romanului.
Hermann Löns a devenit scriitor în mare parte din întâmplare. S-a născut în 1866 în cea mai obișnuită familie prusacă. Tatăl său era profesor de școală, mama lui era casnică și avea 14 frați și surori (cinci au murit la o vârstă fragedă – duhul vremii era veșnic flamînd). Micul Herman era foarte bolnăvicios și chiar nu-i plăcea să meargă la școală. Însă avea o pasiune deocheată: alergarea prin pădurile și câmpurile din jur. Tatăl său se plîngea ca va crește și va deveni un prost care nu ar ști decât să-și facă de rușine familia.
De-a lungul timpului, familia Löns s-a mutat în Westafalia, unde capului familiei i s-a dat o poziție bună. Herman a fost repartizat la o universitate locală pentru a studia medicina. Dar, în loc de anatomie, a preferat să studieze structura tavernelor locale. Expulzat dintr-o universitate, băiatul nostru a intrat imediat în alta. Ei bine, nu că era fascinat tare de studiu, dar a încercat. Nu a absolvit niciodată niciuna dintre numeroasele sale universități. Și cum te poți concentra pe studiu când sunt atât de multe lucruri interesante în jur? Dacă, sa zicem, un polițist merge pe stradă, cu siguranță ar trebui să sari și să-l lovești cu pumnul în fața lui grasă. Lămpile cu gaz ard pe stradă? - Trebuie sparte pentru a nu deranja somnul oamenilor cinstiți.
Un alcoolic, un huligan inveterat și un antisocial înrăit sunt epitete de neinvidiat pentru un tânăr dintr-o țară în care Ordnung și disciplina au fost ridicate la rangul de religie. Dar Hermann Lons nu era nicidecum un degenerat. Problema lui era că Lens era un bărbat dintr-o altă eră. O epocă în care nu existau căi ferate și vapoare cu aburi, în care cerurile orașelor nu erau încă afumate de hornurile urâte ale fabricilor. O epocă în care țăranul german, stăpân al curții și al pământului său, a existat în armonie cu natura. Timp care se scurgea pentru totdeauna, devorat de Molohul industrializării. Și doar câțiva rebeli au găsit puterea de a apăra Vechea Ordine.
Calea unui rebel este întotdeauna dificilă. Și nu există finaluri fericite. Acest lucru s-a întâmplat cu Löns. Nu avea profesie; în tinerețe nu a învățat practic nimic. Dar Herman avea un talent înnăscut, fie de la Dumnezeu, fie din natura sa natală, care i-a inspirat talentul de a scrie. S-a angajat la un ziar și și-a luat propria sa mică rubrică. Şase luni mai târziu a fost concediat de la serviciu pentru beţie. S-a angajat ca redactor și s-a trezit din nou pe stradă când a apărut la birou după o noapte de ebrietate alcoolică. Destul - a decis Löns. Ajunge munca conform unui program și venirea la serviciu până la ora 8 dimineața. Și a devenit, așa cum s-ar spune acum, un freelancer.
Și atunci au început să se întâmple lucrurile. Hermann Löns a publicat activ sub diferite pseudonime în ziarele hanovriene. Și-a cumpărat o casă în pustietate, unde dispărea pentru săptămâni întregi, rătăcind cu un pistol și un câine credincios. A scris articole, poezii, nuvele despre animale și vânătoare. Burgerul german din zonele urbane tânjea după natura sa natală, pe care Löns o glorifica. Dar Herman înțelegera că opera sa principală nu fusese încă scrisă. Momentul a venit în 1910. Atunci se publica romanul lui istoric cu titlul amenințător „Vârcolacul”.
Intriga romanului este simplă și clară: secolul al 17-lea Germania este sfâșiată de Războiul de 30 de ani. Hoardele de tâlhari de orice tip terorizează satele germane, jefuiesc, violează și ucid. Un simplu țăran Harm Wulf, un tip cu o dispoziție dură, dar corectă, își pierde familia în timpul unuia dintre raidurile soldaților brutali. Ajunge! Acum nu mai este un „bauer” inofensiv, ci comandantul unui detașament de partizani. Și răzbunarea lui va fi severă. La fel ca lupii sălbatici, sătenii rebeli nu cunosc frica și nu se supun forței. Ei construiesc o cetate pe un deal înalt și resping din când în când atacurile celor care îndrăznesc să încalce libertatea țărănească. „Vârcolacii” înving inamicul, dar lupta este grea și sângeroasă. „Vârcolacii” nu iau prizonieri, ci îi spânzură de copaci și îi îneacă de vii în mlaștini - o represalie crudă îi așteaptă pe vandali și tâlhari. Când pacea vine în sfârșit, Harm Wulf, un bătrân bolnav și decrepit, abia se poate ridica în picioare. Dar el a apărat libertatea germanului de a trăi pe pământul său conform propriei legi.
„Vârcolacul” a câștigat imediat o popularitate enormă pe piața germană de carte. Dar cea mai frumoasă oră a romanului a sunat mult mai târziu. Lens însuși nu mai trăia la acea vreme - scriitorul, care s-a oferit voluntar pe front în 1914, a murit în prima bătălie. De atunci a trecut multă apă pe sub pod. Vechea Germanie a căzut, iar clasicii recunoscuți ai literaturii au fost înlocuiți de inovatori ambițioși precum Remarque, Feuchtwanger și Hesse. Dar problema este că o parte semnificativă a societății germane, aceiași „oameni profundi”, nu erau foarte mulțumiti de noua literatură. Și chiar de-a dreptul frustrați. Îi irita mesajul ei pacifist-conciliator, cu o cercetare sufletească dureroasă și cu psihologismul lor sofisticat.
Așa că, când poporul german profund a ajuns la putere în 1933, avea nevoie de o carte care să poată fi desemnată drept simbol. O carte prin intermediul căreia ar putea fi educate noile generații de tineri germani. „Werwolf” a devenit o astfel de carte. Se potrivea cu rolul unei cărți de program al ideologiei naziste din toate punctele de vedere. Hermann Löns a idealizat lupta armată și a idolatrizat lumea patriarhală a țăranului - naziștii au făcut același lucru, plănuind să reinstaleze orășenii în comunele rurale în spațiul de locuit recucerit de la „Untermensch-ii” slavi.
Până în 1938, Vârcolacul depășise 500.000 de exemplare vândute. Aproximativ un milion au fost tipărite înainte de sfârșitul celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial. Romanul a fost foarte recomandat pentru studiu de către băieții din hitlerjugend și formațiunile de apărare aeriană care păzeau cerurile peste orașele Germaniei - pentru a folosi cuvinte artistice, pentru a trezi în sufletele tinerilor pasiunea pentru războiul total.
Și nu întâmplător detașamentele de partizani, formate chiar la sfârșitul războiului de liderii Reich-ului în agonie, au primit numele de „Vârcolacii”.
Reich-ul de o mie de ani a durat doar 13 ani și niciun partizan nu a reușit să-l salveze. Într-o oarecare măsură, romanul lui Löns „a murit” odată cu el. În primii ani de după război, a fost chiar interzisă publicarea. Puțin mai târziu, interdicția a fost ridicată și Werwolf a trecut prin multe retipăriri. Dar până astăzi, pentru Germania modernă și pentru lumea modernă în ansamblu, unde domină ideile de toleranță, servilism și pacifism, rămâne o lucrare extrem de incomodă, iar Hermann Löns este un scriitor incomod. „Viața înseamnă moarte, a fi înseamnă a muri!”, „Un german adevărat ucide un tâlhar înainte ca acesta să ridice toporul deasupra sa” - astfel de mesaje în opera lui Löns, după standardele de astăzi, se învecinează cu extremistul de dreapta. Dar cine știe? - dacă vor deveni din nou relevante în viitor întro nouă rotire a ciclului istoric?
January 2, 2022
I was on a small Thirty Years War kick in 2021, having read Schiller's Wallenstein trilogy, Hans von Grimmelhausen's Simplicius Simplicissimus, and finishing up with Hermann Löns' The Warwolf. Both Wallenstein, being a series a plays revolving around the political side of the war, and Simplicius Simplicissimus, being a light-hearted picaresque novel (how Grimmelhausen managed to live through it himself and turn into a funny story is truly impressive), avoided some of the dirty parts of the war, The Warwolf wades straight into it- bands of marauding mercenaries, desperate beggars, and opportunistic criminals were ever present, raping, killing, stealing, torturing, and cannabalizing people for sport. Complete human depravity.
Such is the plot of The Warwolf: after his family is murdered and his farm and hometown are destroyed by a roving band of soldiers, Harm Wulf and his fellow villagers relocate into the German marshlands and form a militia of sorts who kill any suspicious outsiders without mercy.
I liked it quite a bit, but I'm going to make an awful comparison here: this book is a bit like if you combined The Water Margin (which I highly recommend) and The Turner Diaries (which is in absolute trash book, not only for its politics, but for its awful prose and boring plot). I would have given The Warwolf 5 stars, but it does get a little Turner Diaries-ish at times, since after their formation, The Warwolves themselves seem to never lose or face any real opposition. But considering they fight mainly through ambush and have the absolute advantage of the terrain, it's a bit more forgivable in context of the story.
So if you like European historical fiction and also thought The Water Margin was great, you'll like this.
Such is the plot of The Warwolf: after his family is murdered and his farm and hometown are destroyed by a roving band of soldiers, Harm Wulf and his fellow villagers relocate into the German marshlands and form a militia of sorts who kill any suspicious outsiders without mercy.
I liked it quite a bit, but I'm going to make an awful comparison here: this book is a bit like if you combined The Water Margin (which I highly recommend) and The Turner Diaries (which is in absolute trash book, not only for its politics, but for its awful prose and boring plot). I would have given The Warwolf 5 stars, but it does get a little Turner Diaries-ish at times, since after their formation, The Warwolves themselves seem to never lose or face any real opposition. But considering they fight mainly through ambush and have the absolute advantage of the terrain, it's a bit more forgivable in context of the story.
So if you like European historical fiction and also thought The Water Margin was great, you'll like this.
April 11, 2025
Great narrative, I think the structure of some of the chapters was a little chaotic, as well as the inclusion of dozens of names that never became relevant and would periodically include a dozen more. I attribute most of this to the fact that it was written in 1910 and I'm used to more contemporary writing. The translators notes were great and added a lot to the understanding of the time and culture.
The story itself was excellent. I think that modern people could learn a lot about community aid and mutual protection in our age of "anarcho-tyranny". The Warwolves serve as an example of how to maintain the security of your family, extended family, community, and locality from hostile outsiders and agents of the State that are just as militant or hateful as the "Mansfelders, Weimaraners, Braunschweigers, Marauders, and Swedes" in the book.
If there is a key takeaway it would be to not wait until your house is burning and your wife and children are murdered to start building the fortifications of community and martial will that are often required during times of extreme upheaval and uncertainty. Find your own moorlands to set up a perimeter around and ruthlessly enforce the protection of it.
"It was not long before all who didn't wear a clean shirt, as it were, gave the moors a wide berth. Word was spreading that things were eerie around these parts. Now and again, one saw men with dark faces lurking in the undergrowth. In other places, there were two pine trees stripped of bark, with a third tree nailed across. But scariest of all: upon those trees one saw a man, or two or three, hung by the neck... and no one knew who they or their judges were. No one, that is, except for the farmers in the area. When the wind made this strange gallows fruit swing to and fro, they laughed and remarked: "The march bells are ringing nicely today!"
Required reading.
The story itself was excellent. I think that modern people could learn a lot about community aid and mutual protection in our age of "anarcho-tyranny". The Warwolves serve as an example of how to maintain the security of your family, extended family, community, and locality from hostile outsiders and agents of the State that are just as militant or hateful as the "Mansfelders, Weimaraners, Braunschweigers, Marauders, and Swedes" in the book.
If there is a key takeaway it would be to not wait until your house is burning and your wife and children are murdered to start building the fortifications of community and martial will that are often required during times of extreme upheaval and uncertainty. Find your own moorlands to set up a perimeter around and ruthlessly enforce the protection of it.
"It was not long before all who didn't wear a clean shirt, as it were, gave the moors a wide berth. Word was spreading that things were eerie around these parts. Now and again, one saw men with dark faces lurking in the undergrowth. In other places, there were two pine trees stripped of bark, with a third tree nailed across. But scariest of all: upon those trees one saw a man, or two or three, hung by the neck... and no one knew who they or their judges were. No one, that is, except for the farmers in the area. When the wind made this strange gallows fruit swing to and fro, they laughed and remarked: "The march bells are ringing nicely today!"
Required reading.
February 21, 2025
This novel had a promising premise but falls flat on its face halfway through. The story is an account of a peasant village in the 30 years war and its leadership by a freeholder named Harm Wulf. After a series of injustices, the local the villagers decide to take defense into their own hands. In the first half of the novel there seems to be some hints that the villagers are moving atavistically towards pagan roots. They revive an old symbol, the wolfsangel, children start singing nursery rhymes mentioning Wotan, and their militia places an emphasis on only taking unmarried men. It's a structure with clear parallels to the Proto-European Mannerbund, whereby young men with a totemic attachment to wolves would go on raids. Even the first chapter hints at something like this with a lengthy discussion the areas pre-Christian history. Little ever comes of these points though other than some simple foreshadowing of the villager's eventual behavior.
As the war progresses the villagers get more aggressive against trespassers and wayward soldiers. Local lords reward their efforts with moratoriums on taxes, and the peasants coffers overflow from robbed goods. The town takes in a preacher and uses the funds from looting builds a church. This construction of a church is a curious for two reasons. First, the peasants seem to have little conception or care as to whether this church is protestant or Catholic. Perhaps their ignorance is the point. Second, the cross they make to display in it is two wolfangels intersecting, which should be noted by the reader as a swastika. Again, we get some of the pagan symbolism without Lons ever doing anything with it. For all the Christian posturing of the peasants, nothing is ever done with it thematically either.
Harm Wulf by the end of the novel is old, gray, and thrice a widower. He’s eulogized as a violent but righteous man because the violence was directed towards those who would otherwise injure the community, much like Samson or Judas Maccabee.
It's no wonder the third Reich republished it as propaganda for people on their homefront. The novel clearly puts forward volkisch virtues of self reliance, blood and soil, and defense of one's home, but it rings hollow. It's almost like the heart and values of the peasantry is something to be hidden, with the ideological symbols pointing anywhere but home. In a way, the values lauded by the book parallel the village itself: a home on bleak moors protected and hidden by forests and mires of symbols that point elsewhere.
As the war progresses the villagers get more aggressive against trespassers and wayward soldiers. Local lords reward their efforts with moratoriums on taxes, and the peasants coffers overflow from robbed goods. The town takes in a preacher and uses the funds from looting builds a church. This construction of a church is a curious for two reasons. First, the peasants seem to have little conception or care as to whether this church is protestant or Catholic. Perhaps their ignorance is the point. Second, the cross they make to display in it is two wolfangels intersecting, which should be noted by the reader as a swastika. Again, we get some of the pagan symbolism without Lons ever doing anything with it. For all the Christian posturing of the peasants, nothing is ever done with it thematically either.
Harm Wulf by the end of the novel is old, gray, and thrice a widower. He’s eulogized as a violent but righteous man because the violence was directed towards those who would otherwise injure the community, much like Samson or Judas Maccabee.
It's no wonder the third Reich republished it as propaganda for people on their homefront. The novel clearly puts forward volkisch virtues of self reliance, blood and soil, and defense of one's home, but it rings hollow. It's almost like the heart and values of the peasantry is something to be hidden, with the ideological symbols pointing anywhere but home. In a way, the values lauded by the book parallel the village itself: a home on bleak moors protected and hidden by forests and mires of symbols that point elsewhere.
February 3, 2025
I wanted to like this but it feels like a first draft by a very energetic amateur.
The first half of the novel has some tension; a farmer's wife is murdered and his village is threatened by mercenaries. He and his comrades form a militia and become hard men in numerous battles, before the farmer avenges his wife by bringing her killers to justice.
But in the second part there is no tension, and it doesn't build to anything. There is no antagonist or climax. The novel simply plods onwards.
Also I am not sure the translation is very good. The writing is choppy, the flow stutters.
The first half of the novel has some tension; a farmer's wife is murdered and his village is threatened by mercenaries. He and his comrades form a militia and become hard men in numerous battles, before the farmer avenges his wife by bringing her killers to justice.
But in the second part there is no tension, and it doesn't build to anything. There is no antagonist or climax. The novel simply plods onwards.
Also I am not sure the translation is very good. The writing is choppy, the flow stutters.
June 6, 2025
Over 100 years old and this novel still had the power to shock me. It really taught me to understand how the 30 Years War, with all its murder, rape, theft, and wanton destruction, poisoned the German people. Their land became the playground for foreign armies and, by the end of it, something horrible had been done to their psyche. When this novel came out, it opened old wounds even as Germans couldn't get enough of it. A shocking, disgusting, enraging reading experience. Highly recommended as a historical datum, regardless of how honest it may or may not be as history.
December 3, 2025
This book was depressing.
I think it was a great piece of historical fiction that gave you a feel for what went on during the Thirty Years War. I think it did a wonderful job showing just how important it is to come together with others to fight for what you believe in and your way of life.
The translation was a little tough for me, though that’s no one’s fault but mine. And it was sad. So sad. Like I knew it would be, but still.
Despite the sadness there was bravery and courage. I can really appreciate that.
I think it was a great piece of historical fiction that gave you a feel for what went on during the Thirty Years War. I think it did a wonderful job showing just how important it is to come together with others to fight for what you believe in and your way of life.
The translation was a little tough for me, though that’s no one’s fault but mine. And it was sad. So sad. Like I knew it would be, but still.
Despite the sadness there was bravery and courage. I can really appreciate that.
August 6, 2023
The Warwolf is the story of a man and his community in northern German lands during the ravages and cruelties of the Thirty Years War. It is a tale of morality and choice, as well as a chronicle of how the wars of the rich and powerful have enormous detrimental effects on the population--far more than those on the rich and powerful. This is a solid tale of adventure and history.
March 4, 2021
This book was decent. To me, the book felt very confused on what it was supposed to be about. A lot of parts that I would consider interesting were talked about instead of actually being shown in the story. It’s not a bad book, but it definitely wasn’t very interesting.
June 3, 2025
Ein schöner Roman, der während des 30-jährigen Krieges im Raum Hannover spielt.
Es geht um eine Bauern Guerilla, die sich gegen die durch das Land ziehenden Truppen durchsetzt, die der Bevölkerung Leid zufügen.
Es geht um eine Bauern Guerilla, die sich gegen die durch das Land ziehenden Truppen durchsetzt, die der Bevölkerung Leid zufügen.
June 6, 2023
A fantastic little story about a parochial German village during the 30 Year’s War.
October 25, 2024
After reading an insanely detailed but beautifully written account of the Thirty Years War, I quickly searched for fictional depictions of the devastating conflict. This work is a classic in Germany but suffers from archaic prose; either from translation or the author letting his nationalism get in his way. What I appreciated was the depiction of these rugged Protestant farmers trying to survive against the predations of marauding troops, whether they be fighting for the Catholic Imperials or the Protestant princes. The footnotes were necessary to gleam the significance of allusions to folklore and medieval customs. There's also the mundane perseverance of these villagers and their will to just be present to each other and live their lives. But their bucolic existence being interrupted by horrific warfare grew repetitive. While the horrors of war, especially from post-traumatic stress (treated novelly for a book written in 1910) were lightly drawn, the characters remained more archetypes than authentic individuals.
Plus, the circumstances around the novel became more fascinating to me than the book itself. The author apparently had a drinking problem, which led to his sporadic career as a journalist, then enlisted during WWI at 48 years of age, only to be killed in battle three weeks later. Then the Nazis made him a nationalist hero and made every attempt to search for his remains and rebury them with pomp. Remains were found but there is still a question whether they belong to the correct writer. A story on the vicissitudes of a 20th century life in Germany would be more compelling than this work of fiction.
Plus, the circumstances around the novel became more fascinating to me than the book itself. The author apparently had a drinking problem, which led to his sporadic career as a journalist, then enlisted during WWI at 48 years of age, only to be killed in battle three weeks later. Then the Nazis made him a nationalist hero and made every attempt to search for his remains and rebury them with pomp. Remains were found but there is still a question whether they belong to the correct writer. A story on the vicissitudes of a 20th century life in Germany would be more compelling than this work of fiction.
May 31, 2011
historical novel re the peasant experience in Germany during the 30 years war, early 17th century -- much was very good, the main character very sympathetic, and the description of the era very vivid -- and man was it a miserable period, basically with competing armies rampaging throughout the countryside continuously for decades, followed by villains and marauders and generally starving people turned criminal, etc. -- the main story is about a group of peasants who band together after their town is destroyed and many of them brutally murdered, who spend the next two decades basically murdering every bad guy (and every soldier, often the same) who comes near their town ... definitely worth reading, some tenderness in the middle of much bloodshed,perhaps got a bit tiresome by the end ...
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