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Thackeray's Pendennis as a Source of Fontane's Frau Jenny Treibel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2020

Extract

Theodor Fontane's interest in English literature dates back to his boyhood years in Swinemünde. Here he first became familiar with the name of the arch-magician Walter Scott, a favorite with his father and at that time the most brilliant luminary in the literary firmament. Keen admiration for the great Briton the poet retained throughout his life. Clear reflections of this enthusiasm may be discerned in his first novel, the broad historical canvas Vor dem Sturm (1878), and also to a lesser extent in several of his later works.1

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1925

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References

1 Cf. my monograph, The Influence of Waller Scott on the Novels of Theodor Fontane, New York, 1922.

2 Ein Sommer in London, p. 213.

3 Letter, May 9, 1878.

4 January 14, 1879.

5 To be sure, only the latter part of Pendennis.

6 P. 96.

7 It may not be straining a point to connect Blanche's baptismal name, Betsy, with Jenny.

8 P. 170.

9 Cf. p. 6.

10 Vol. I, p. 390. References are to the Cambridge Edition of Thackeray's works, Boston, 1881.

11 Ibid., p. 319.

12 Vol. II, p. 268.

13 This volume of poems has a blue cover, as does Blanche's book.

14 P. 232.

15 P. 146.

16 P. 14.

17 It must be admitted that Harry Foker does not go further than an engagement with Blanche Amory.

18 Cf. especially the guests at Frau Treibel's dinner-party, chapters 3 and 4.