Gertrud (novel)

Gertrud is a novel by Hermann Hesse, first appeared in the final version in 1910. The novel describes the love of the musician Kuhn to the beautiful Gertrude Imthor, but he can not be more than a friend.

Action

As a music student presents Kuhn after pretty Liddy. The coquettish girl goads him on to a risky toboggan ride in semi-darkness. Kuhn breaks his left leg several times and paralyzed from now on. The theory teacher at the conservatory has Kuhn attention to his talent for composition. As the son of wealthy parents Kuhn cured from in the Grisons. He composed the song Avalanche. Last semester Kuhn learns the successful opera singer Heinrich Muoth know. The capricious, hard-drinking baritone becomes his friend. Kuhn is the more restrained partner in that firm friendship that lasts until death Muoth's.

Kuhn learns of the rumor Muoth was a heartthrob and propose its respective mistress; nevertheless the ladies to pursue faithful and devoted to him. Kuhn registered rumor confused. Muoth has recognized Kuhn's talent is the avalanche song several times to the public and brings the setting loose, limp as a violinist in the orchestra under Kuhn at his stage. Kuhn sees in the theatrical practice, the importance of the instruments and wrote a violin sonata.

By the time Kuhn is known among music friends and plays in the villa of wealthy manufacturer and music lover Imthor his work together with other professional musicians. On this occasion he met Imthors daughter Gertrude. Kuhn and the young girl with the high, bird light, delicious floating voice music from now on in the villa together. The old Imthor tolerates the developing camaraderie of the two and looks like the friendship. Kuhn is working on his first opera. Gertrud - cheerful, bright - sings the soprano role in private wonderful. He kisses her mouth, Gertrud making it happen quietly and almost solemn. Kuhn sought Gertrud, but stifled the strong, plagued by recurring feeling in Tonphantasien. Due to its mutilation he considers himself inferior.

Nevertheless, Kuhn can not suppress a written declaration of love. Gertrud dodges; she would initially remain in the friendship. Kuhn respects the refusal. Muoth is the ideal candidate for the male lead role in Kuhn's opera. So Kuhn leads to a friend at the Imthors so Gertrude and Muoth can practice together. Instinctively is the old Imthor against Muoth, the three young people can, however, give grudgingly. Muoth - impartially, cautious, considerate - to win the affection of Gertrude Kuhn's dismay. The Cripple holds back, but must, as it is already too late, observed in Gertrud fatigue, anxiety and shyness. He has lost it. Gertrud is Muoth's wife. Kuhn's opera, with Muoth as a major star, a success.

Kuhn sees how the couple is suffering, but can not help, especially since Gertrude insists that she loves him Muoth and will never unfaithful. Gertrud holds the marriage is not enough. She pulls temporarily back to her father. Kuhn thinks of the only kiss he had given Gertrud and presents itself in occasional daydreaming, to win them for himself. However, he also believes that this desire is nothing more than a wishful fantasy. Gertrud remains unattainable. The friend is in between.

Kuhn travels to Muoth to Munich after he asked him in a letter to a visit. Muoth drinking even more than before. The once brilliant star sings, in rare moments of sobriety, tolerable on the stage. He needs the alcohol and makes apparently deliberately broken. Kuhn stayed in the villa of his friend. Muoth lays hands on himself and dies. Gertrude hurries over and kisses the dead lips.

Kuhn says in growing old, "She is my friend ."

Form

Kuhn tells his story out of a time interval. Here, the narrator prejudice sparingly. This affects Fanning. Kuhn shares its name with no.

Book editions

Hesse wrote the novel in the winter of 1908 /09 in Gaienhofen. From the original version only parts have survived. The second version was 1909/10 published in Velhagen & Klasing Monatshefte. The third version was published in 1910 as a first edition were published by Albert Langen. The German book community acquired publishing rights in 1926 and gave the novel twice out. The Suhrkamp Verlag took over the book in 1955 in his collected works. In 1973 Random House published the first paperback edition, published by Suhrkamp in 1983 the second.

  • Gertrude. Novel. Langen, Munich 1910.
  • Gertrude. Novel. Preface by Hanns Martin Elster. German Book Association, Berlin 1927; Reprint ibid. 1951.
  • Gertrude. Novel. Suhrkamp, Berlin, 1955 ( Collected Works in single issues ).
  • Gertrude. Novel. Rowohlt, Reinbek 1973 ( 159 thousand in 1982 ), ISBN 3-499-11664-2 ( = rororo 1664).
  • Gertrude. Novel. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main 1983, ISBN 3-518-37390-0 ( st = 890 ).

Peter Camenzind • Beneath the Wheel • Gertrude • Rosshalde • Knulp • Demian • Siddhartha • Steppenwolf • Narcissus and Goldmund • Journey to the East • The Glass Bead Game

An hour after midnight • Hermann eavesdropper • Beautiful is the youth • Friends • Small and Wagner • Klingsor 's Last Summer

Francis of Assisi • • Kurgast Boccaccio • The Nuremberg travel

  • Work of Hermann Hesse
  • Literary work
  • Literature ( 20th century)
  • Literature ( German )
  • Novel, epic
Sledding Music school Steppenwolf (novel) Klingsor's Last Summer
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