The Elusive 'I' in the Novel

Hippel, author of Die Lebensläufe nach aufsteigender Linie (1778-1781), has been widely recognized as one of the best German authors to write in the manner of Laurence Sterne. This study places Hippel in the context of the theory of the novel and historiography in the eighteenth century. It re-examines the relationship between Hippel and Sterne (as well as Diderot), with emphasis on the contrast in the authors' use of narrators and documents. Hippel's indebtedness to Kant is well known, but here his borrowing from Kant's lecture notes is discussed in detail and its relevance to Hippel's theory of the novel shown.

Klappentext

Hippel, author of Die Lebensläufe nach aufsteigender Linie (1778-1781), has been widely recognized as one of the best German authors to write in the manner of Laurence Sterne. This study places Hippel in the context of the theory of the novel and historiography in the eighteenth century. It re-examines the relationship between Hippel and Sterne (as well as Diderot), with emphasis on the contrast in the authors' use of narrators and documents. Hippel's indebtedness to Kant is well known, but here his borrowing from Kant's lecture notes is discussed in detail and its relevance to Hippel's theory of the novel shown.

Zusammenfassung
"Beck's erudite study of Hippel, his novel, and the novel's relation to the work of Laurence Sterne, Diderot, and Kant is a most useful contribution to our knowledge of Hippel's place in the history of literature and the history of ideas." (Arnulf Zweig, Comparative Literature)
"Beck leistet einen Beitrag sowohl für die Literatur- und Philosophiegeschichte als auch für die Komparatistik. Er dürfte das neuerwachte Interesse an Hippel in "aufsteigender Linie" beeinflussen." (Joseph Kohnen, Zeitschrift für deutsche Philologie)

Inhalt
Contents: Hippel's theory of narration and use of documents in his novel Die Lebensläufe nach aufsteigender Linie is discussed in the context of Sterne's Tristram Shandy, Diderot's Jacques le fataliste, and Kant's lectures.