German Literature of the Twentieth Century: From Aestheticism to Postmodernism. By Ingo R. Stoehr. Camden House History of German Literature, 10. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2001. Pp. xiv + 529. $80.

This volume, the concluding work in a projected ten-volume series in English surveying the history of German literature, is actually the first to be published-it is also the only single-authored volume, an enormous individual undertaking. The book's subtitle proposes a departure from conventional literary histories, signaling an emphasis on aesthetic/theoretical aspects. The resulting opus is divided into two major parts, dealing with literature before and after the watershed year 1945; subdivisions deal with German literature by decade throughout the twentieth century. Each decade/chapter begins with a historical overview of the political and social forces at work and proceeds to analyze those works that exemplify the relevant aesthetic criteria. The book closes with a bibliography of secondary sources and an index of authors, works, and terms.

Todd C. Hanlin
University of Arkansas