Fanny Lewald ― Between Rebellion And Renunciation

Lewald's life and work seem to be located in a most difficult time and space, the nineteenth century in Germany. Ward (German, Wellesley College) provides the first comprehensive narrative in English of this early German advocate of women's right to an education and work. Ward places Lewald within her context and contends her subject was torn between rebellion and renunciation from childhood, became liberated to some extent from the tension through writing, created startlingly modern feminist tracks, moved to fiction, and thereby found herself very able to renew as she worked through both the public and personal issues that drove her toward rebellion. The result is a fascinating study of a woman torn between conflicting expectations, some of them from her society, and some from the pools of resentment and fear she felt within herself. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Margaret E. Ward is Professor of German at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, where she held the William R. Kenan, Jr. professorship from 1995 to 1997.