New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-20
GERMAN CLASSICS
A Century of the Nations Lit
erary Productiveness.

THE GERMAN CLASSICS or THE
NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH
CENTURIES Masterpieces OF German
Literature translated into English
with General Introduction and Bio
graphical Essays. Editor-ln-Chief. Kuno
FranCke. Phi. D.. IL. D.. Lift. ID. ~
vols. svo. illustrated. Vols ". New
York. The German Publication Society.
Planned by Dir. Isidor Singer. the cdl-
tor OF the Jewish Encyclopedia" or
ganized on a vast scale with Teutoric
thoroughncss and system. this literary
undertaking will present. In transla-
ton. the best work OF Germany's grca.
authors from the end Of the seven
teenth century to the present day, in all
departments Of literature. and In that
~ the ora tory that becomes literature
as well. These classics will be repre-
scented, not by the extracts usually
given in publications Of this kind, bat
by complete English versions Of their
greatest and best The word Classics"
in the title is perhaps somewhat
stretched. since II is hazardous UNI
dcrtaking 10 apply II 10 authors still
living or only recently departed. one
doubts. for instance, If Arthur Schntz-
Ter, Clara Viebig, Ricardo HUGH, Lud-
wiz Thoma. or even Sudermann, not
withstandng his enormous influence or
the German fiction OF the hour. is en-
titled TO the designation, or will he
hereafter. on the other hand, Il seems
safe enough 10 rank the living Haupt-
mann even now among the German i'm
mortals as a successor and continuator
of the poetic traditions OF his race.
In this. indeed. in its representation
of the continuity Of German literature
since the beginning Of the nineteenth
century will he found. according 10 the
promise OF the editors. the deeper merit
of the undertaking. The note is struck
in the general introduction by Or. Rich
ard VI. Meyer, professor OF German lit
erature AT the University OF Berlin IL
is 10 be repeated again and again in the
special introductions to the transla-
lions of the chosen work Of each sue.
cessive author. And ii is on the frag-
mentariness ~ even the cultivated
Americans or Englshmans knowledge
Of German literature that Professor
Franckc lays stress in his editors pre-
face as the cause OF the venture.
1t is an imposing array OF literary
authorities, American as well as Ger
executive board and advisory council.
In addition to the special introductions
there will be biographies by recognized
authorities, and as for the translations.
the best Of those already existing will
be given, while, whenever necessary,
new ones will he made. among the
American translators engaged being
Percy Mackaye. The achievements of
nearly hundred German master minds
will be represented in the fields OF arc,
music, science, philosophy, religion,
travel, history, oratory and the drama,
as we'll as in that of belles-letttes. Bis
marck, Moltke, Beethoven and Wagner
will he represented together with Fritz
Reuter-to whose translator one wishes
success. -Frenssen and Frau Won Eb-
rer- Eschenbach. Special care has been
taken in the selection Of clear, read
able type, and the work will be album
dainty equipped with portraits, repro
ductions OF paintings and other illus
trativc material in photogravure and
mezzo-tint engravings.
OF the five volumes already issued.
the first two are devoted to Goethe.
and the third to Schiller. the introduce
tions To both being from the pen of
Professor Calvin Thomas, OF Columbia
University, and the special introduction
TO Faust" from that Of Professor
Francke. Volume " contains Jean
Paul, Schegel, Novalis, Holderlin,
Tieck and kleist; and Volume V.
Fich.e. Schelling, Schleiermacher. Az.
MIN, Bretano, and the brothers Grimm.