Unterm Birnbaum: Theodor Fontane between the Allure of Popular Literature and the Transcending of the Canon

Abstract

This essay examines "Unterm Birnbaum" (1885) as a work of 'transgression'. It aims to reveal Theodor Fontane's innovative fusion of high literature and popular fiction, integrating elements of the detective story into a pastoral novella characteristic of mid-19th century German Realism.

The objective is to restore proper recognition to a long-overlooked tale, often dismissed by critics as a minor work by the master and an unsuccessful example of a genre considered lacking in literary merit. This study will instead highlight Fontane's original interest in the crime novel—a genre still relatively unknown in Germany at the time—showcasing his inspiration from the English model, which was experiencing its golden age in the United Kingdom at the end of the 19th century.