Writing Time: Studies in Serial Literature, 1780–1850

Writing Time explores how German-speaking authors and editors write time by writing about it and mapping it through literary formats, providing readers with an ongoing history of the present. It draws from media theory, periodical studies, and Reinhart Koselleck's work on temporalization and untimely models of historical time.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Writing Time is a groundbreaking study that delves into the profound impact of serial literature based in journals and anthologies on the perception of time during a pivotal period in European literary and political landscapes. Sean Franzel, in his insightful exploration, uncovers the intricate ways in which German-speaking authors and editors engage with time through a combination of writing about time and mapping time itself through specific literary formats. By examining the works of notable writers such as F. J. Bertuch, K. A. Böttinger, J. W. Goethe, Ludwig Börne, and Heinrich Heine, Franzel sheds light on how serial writing, characterized by its open-ended continuation, emerges as a privileged mode of social commentary and literary entertainment. Through meticulous analysis, he demonstrates how this form of writing offers readers an ongoing history of the present, known as Zeitgeschichte.

Drawing from a diverse range of disciplines, including media theory, periodical studies, and Reinhart Koselleck's work on processes of temporalization and untimely models of historical time, Writing Time presents a fresh perspective on the role of smaller literary forms in shaping our understanding of temporal unfolding. Franzel highlights the significance of urban tableaux, cultural reportage, and caricature as new ways of envisioning temporal processes, re-establishing periodicals and other serial forms as central to nineteenth-century print culture.

This comprehensive study not only sheds light on the literary and cultural significance of serial literature but also offers valuable insights into the broader historical and social contexts of the nineteenth century. Writing Time is a testament to Franzel's scholarly expertise and his ability to bridge the gap between literature, history, and media studies, making it a must-read for scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 907g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501772450