Publisher's Synopsis
Novalis's theory of poetic historiography is seen here for the first time in
its Enlightenment context. Novalis did not, as traditionally supposed, merely
negate the ideals of Enlightenment historiography: rationality, objectivity,
evidence. In typical Romantic fashion he sought also to assimilate theses virtues
dialectically into his own world-view. His narrative techniques in Die Christenheit oder Europa, Hymnen
an die Nacht, and Heinrich von Ofterdingen are analysed from this
perspective. Commentators who see Novalis as Enlightenment's opponent emphasise
the ambiguous communicative function of these works. But here they are seen
as attempts to render the historical process transparent, and so to offer evidence
of history's meaning in a way derived from Enlightenment practice. The book
concludes with a reflection on the differing attitudes to Enlightenment in early
and later Romanticism.
