HERMANN HESSE'S ROLE AS A CRITIC: AN ANALYSIS OF HIS BOOK REVIEWS IN 'MARZ,' 'VIVOS VOCO' AND 'BONNIERS LITTERARA MAGASIN'. (GERMAN TEXT)

Throughout his career Hermann Hesse was active as a book reviewer. From 1900 to 1962 he published more than 3000 reviews, in numerous periodicals and newspapers. Three time periods were especially productive, the years immediately preceding and following the First World War, and the mid-1930s. During each of these periods Hesse contributed an especially large number of reviews to a single journal, Marz (1907-1917), Vivos Voco (1919-1924) and Bonniers Litterara Magasin (1935-1936), respectively. These reviews were studied in detail.; The reviews were analyzed according to various criteria and then statistically evaluated through a computer program. More emphasis was placed on reviews of belles lettres than of nonfiction, and more on German literature than on foreign literature. The literary reviews were first categorized according to literary time periods. Hesse consistently shows a preference for contemporary works. In Marz, however, he is very favorably disposed toward the Middle Ages, Goethe, romanticism, and poetic realism, and these periods comprise a significant proportion of the total number. Hesse's attitudes towards the various periods are illustrated on the basis of his comments in the reviews.; A second subdivision was made according to literary genres. The majority of the articles deal with prose works. The prose reviews in Marz treat, among others, works by Goethe, the romantics, and the great novelists of the nineteenth century. Most of the contemporary authors discussed by Hesse are lesser-known writers, many of them his friends; the major figures of German literature of the beginning of the century are missing. Hesse prefers writers who use a traditional style and language, and he rarely comments on the expressionistic movement. His prose reviews in Vivos Voco have an added dimension of political awareness. He no longer rejects progressive styles and use of language totally, but the selection of books is still largely traditional. In Bonniers Litterara Magasin all the great names of contemporary German literature can be found. Special emphasis is placed on emigrants and Jewish authors. A brief discussion of foreign authors closes the prose section. Lyric and drama are analyzed, as well as minor literary genres.; Statistics are given on the frequency with which Hesse discusses content, style and language, form and structure, the personality of the author, literary influences, and political influences in the reviews. These figures reveal that Hesse consistently places great emphasis on the style and language of a given book, and often shows an awareness of the importance of literary influences. Political considerations become important after the First World War.; The reviews of works of non-fiction are dealt with in a separate section. A strong interest in art books in the early years gives way to a preference for philosophical and religious writings in the later periods. Throughout his reviewing career, Hesse reviews works on literary history, biography, and criticism.; Statistics of technical aspects, such as length of reviews, references to price, to different editions and the work of editors, and the use of quotes within the reviews, are assessed in the final section.; The analysis of the body of reviews confirms Hesse's knowledge, understanding, and accurate assessment of the literary and cultural scene of the first third of the twentieth century. They reflect his personal preferences and underline his philosophy only to exercise positive criticism and review books that seemed worthy to be recommended to the public.