A NEW-YEAR’S EVE CONFESSION
A NEW-YEAR’S EVE CONFESSION
BY HERMANN SUDERMANN
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Sudermann, born in Prussia, in 1857, began as druggist’s clerk, then tutor, then journalist, until finally he wrote “Honor,” a social satire that now places him, with Hauptmann, leader of the German naturalistic dramatists, as “Dame Care” places him among German novelists.The particular merit of Sudermann, as playwright, lies in his ability to seize upon the most convincing traits of character, and in describing familiar things, with a vein of dry humor. He has surprising invention of plot, and skill in working it out, but his art is often marred by cheap theatrical devices, brutalities, and concessions to public taste. His language is flexible, clear, rich in coloring.The short story here given is the most satisfactory of a collection called “In Twilight,” published in 1890—familiar, colloquial, fireside monologues with a woman of the world.Since 1894, sickness has withdrawn Sudermann from close contact with the world, and weakened his powers of dealing with life.
Sudermann, born in Prussia, in 1857, began as druggist’s clerk, then tutor, then journalist, until finally he wrote “Honor,” a social satire that now places him, with Hauptmann, leader of the German naturalistic dramatists, as “Dame Care” places him among German novelists.
The particular merit of Sudermann, as playwright, lies in his ability to seize upon the most convincing traits of character, and in describing familiar things, with a vein of dry humor. He has surprising invention of plot, and skill in working it out, but his art is often marred by cheap theatrical devices, brutalities, and concessions to public taste. His language is flexible, clear, rich in coloring.
The short story here given is the most satisfactory of a collection called “In Twilight,” published in 1890—familiar, colloquial, fireside monologues with a woman of the world.
Since 1894, sickness has withdrawn Sudermann from close contact with the world, and weakened his powers of dealing with life.
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