Hymen

With "Hymen", the ongoing historical-critical edition of Ferdinand von Saar's works arrives at the output from the author's old age. Physically ailing and frequently assailed by bouts of resignation, the Viennese author (1833-1906) was preoccupied even at this late stage with the subject of adolescent development and the choice of soul-mates. The text-critical apparatus and the history of the author's treatment of the material centre on the genesis of this Erzäauml;hlung. The interpretation demonstrates that "Hymen" interweaves the intellectual, scientific and social currents prevalent in turn-of-the-century Vienna with a large number of topoi culled from the history of ideas.