The three centuries since 1700 have seen a fertile dialogue between literature in German and the momentous historical, philosophical, and cultural shifts of the period. The processes of modernization have left a deep mark on literature, and literature in turn has itself been an agent of change. The Enlightenment, Romanticism, the nineteenth century, modernism and exile, and the period after 1945, have each produced classics of German writing. Regional and national differences, notably between Germany and Austria, have contributed to the rich variety of German literature. The present volume gathers essays that aim to spotlight significant moments in this history.

The volume is dedicated to Ritchie Robertson on the occasion of his retirement from the Taylor Chair of German at the University of Oxford. It pays tribute to his exceptional contribution to the study of modern German literature and thought over a lifetime of scholarship.