The Heimatkunst Movement in German Literature Around 1900

FAIN: FT-10802-70

William R. Cantwell
Carleton College (Northfield, MN 55057-4001)

ABSTRACT: Investigation of the Heimatkunst movement in German literature around 1900, to determine the historical and literary relationships involved. Basically, Heimatkunst means nothing more than a type of literature glorifying the life of the German village and countryside. From the beginning, however, Heimatkunst had an anti-urban, anti-industrial, anti-capitalist streak, in reaction to the change of German into a modern industrial state. Movement took on chauvinistic and racist overtones, a development closely related to development of German imperialism prior to World War I. Movement has not been extensively studied since the Nazi era. Fellow's training is in both history and German; primary interest in literature in its historical and cultural setting.