Novalis's ‘Heinrich von Ofterdingen'
-
Select format
-
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Publication date:
- 08 July 2026
- 30 July 2026
- ISBN:
- 9781009363075
- 9781009363044
- Dimensions:
- (229 x 152 mm)
- Weight & Pages:
- 0.5kg, 426 Pages
- Dimensions:
- Weight & Pages:
You may already have access via personal or institutional login
Show more authors 
You may already have access via personal or institutional login
Book description
Consumed by thoughts of a mysterious flower, Heinrich leaves his cold homeland and travels south until he meets Mathilde, who opens his eyes to the world's mysteries. Then a tragic event reveals the secret power of poetry… Heinrich von Ofterdingen, left unfinished at the time of the author's death, is a masterpiece of philosophical fiction and a classic of German literature. This highly detailed and original interpretation is the most detailed, comprehensive, and systematic study of the novel ever written. Developing fresh insights into the philosophical ideas of the novel while also attending to its symbolic, literary, and creative qualities, Owen Ware explores how Novalis probes the core problem of modern life – fragmentation and our sense of alienation from the world. Ultimately, he shows us, this novel is a timeless expression of the Romantics' idea that only the imagination, guided by love, can bring us back to our spiritual home.
Reviews
‘This masterful translation of Heinrich von Ofterdingen provides a wonderful introduction to Novalis's seminal novel of German Romanticism. Both first-time readers and established scholars will likewise benefit from Owen Ware's extensive, insightful, and clearly written critical commentary.'
Dennis F. Mahoney - Emeritus Professor of German, University of Vermont
‘With this new translation and critical study, Owen Ware provides an invaluable guide to students to one of the most evocative and complex novels of German Romanticism, setting it in its philosophical and literary contexts. Vitally, he also presents, by stressing the variegated concept of love in Novalis, a stimulating new interpretation of Heinrich von Ofterdingen.'
Joanna Raisbeck - Lecturer in German Studies, University College London
Contents
Contents
References
Metrics
Altmetric attention score
Full text views
Full text views helpTotal number of HTML views: 0
Total number of PDF views: 0 *
Loading metrics...
* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.
Usage data cannot currently be displayed.
Accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 A
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.
Accessibility Information
The PDF of this book complies with version 2.2 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), offering more comprehensive accessibility measures for a broad range of users and meets the basic (A) level of WCAG compliance, addressing essential accessibility barriers.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Reading Order and Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Short alternative textual descriptions
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.