Anneliese's House

Anneliese's House is the first English translation of Lou Andreas-Salomé's 1921 Das Haus: Familiengeschichte vom Ende vorigen Jahrhunderts, a presciently modern portrayal of emerging feminist sensibilities in a nineteenth-century family. The protagonist, Anneliese Branhardt, is a pianist who renounces her career to raise a family with her physician husband, Frank. She is haunted by memories of a daughter who died in childhood and is anxious about a risky, late pregnancy. The edition is fully annotated with a critical introduction and bibliography.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2023
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Lou Andreas-Salomé (1861-1937) was a prominent German writer before the First World War, known for her engagement with feminist ideas. Her novel Anneliese's House, originally published in German in 1921, is considered a prescient portrayal of emerging feminist sensibilities within a nineteenth-century family. The novel revolves around Anneliese Branhardt, a pianist who sacrifices her career to raise a family with her physician husband, Frank. She is concerned about her son Balduin, who aspires to be a poet like Rilke, and her daughter Gitta, who is equally free-spirited. Anneliese is haunted by memories of a deceased daughter and faces the challenges of a risky late pregnancy. As her domestic harmony is threatened by her own desires for autonomy and her children's growing independence, Anneliese navigates a future that is both frightening and promising.

This English translation of Anneliese's House, published in 2012, is accompanied by a critical introduction and comprehensive bibliography. Lou Andreas-Salomé's novel remains a significant contribution to feminist literature, offering a nuanced exploration of women's roles and challenges in a patriarchal society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781640141599