Karl Gutzkow (18111878) is a key figure of German literature between the July Revolution and the period of rapid industrialization known in Germany as the Gründerzeit . This documentation, based on the memories, diaries, letters, spies' reports and newspaper correspondence of Gutzkow's contemporaries, gives a detailed picture of his life, influence and importance. With commentaries on the texts, a detailed life history, an annotated list of authors, pictures and indices, this book is a valuable source of biographical material on Gutzkow and his time.

Wolfgang Rasch, Berlin.