Reminiscences of My Life (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. YEARS OF PREPARATION. So I was at home once more, with the academical handle added to my name; at ease, and full of hope. I had stood by myself among strangers, and a number of excellent people had become my friends, and I had received from them nothing but kindness. Once more I sat under my mother's hydrangeas, and gently stroked the soft curls, now grown so much whiter and thinner, which clustered over my father's venerable head. I had much to relate, and was not chary in my account of the dissertation I had written. I unpacked my books and papers, intending to work, but between whiles I could not help putting the finishing touches to a second play which I had thought out in Berlin. It was called 'The Reconciliation of the Falkensteiners'--time, the Middle Ages--in which two families have a feud, which is ended by love--no unheard-of idea. Something of the plot I had got from Wackernagel's book. My favourite figure was a musician called Hahnekamm. The plot overflowed with sentiment, and the dialogues were in prose, and very long, without dramatic touch or colouring; the whole piece, in short, was nothing but a pretentious, chivalrous drama, of chivalrous times, and quite unsuitable to the stage. Though I finished it carefully, I never thought of using it for the stage--it was done only for myself; and I mention it here merely to show how my ideas at twenty-two actually had epic threads still spinning around me, in spite of my study of Shakespeare in Berlin. After passing the winter quietly working at home, I determined to offer myself to the University of Breslau as lecturer on German language and literature. My father approved entirely of the plan. He had a higher idea of me and my powers than they or I really deserved. He was not so far w...