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Conclusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2013

Kati Tonkin
Affiliation:
University of Western Australia
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Summary

IN 1935 ROTH PUBLISHED Die Büste des Kaisers, a short novella that has been cited as evidence of the writer's increasingly desperate “Wirklichkeitsleugnung” in the wake of Hitler's ascent to power in Germany. It has been described as painting “ein von Trauer überschattetes Bild einer goldenen Vergangenheit” and as “a tale of unconditional praise for the Habsburg monarchy.” The oft-quoted description of the protagonist Count Morstin on the opening page of the novella as “einer der edelsten und reinsten Typen des Österreichers schlechthin, das heißt also: ein übernationaler Mensch und also ein Adeliger echter Art” (5:655) certainly lends itself to this sort of interpretation. However, the subtext is a recognition of the historical fact of the monarchy's passing and an acceptance that there can be no return to the past. For although the Count attempts to reconstruct his life from the “Trümmer [s]einer alten Heimat” (5:668), symbolically reinstating the emperor “als hätte es keinen Krieg gegeben — als gäbe es keine neue polnische Republik — als ruhte der alte Kaiser nicht längst schon in der Kapuzinergruft — als gehörte dieses Dorf Lopatyny noch zu dem Gebiet der alten Monarchie” (5:670), the illusion is short-lived, and he is forced to concede historical reality: “Ach! Es hatte keinen Sinn mehr, die Augen vor der neuen Welt der neuen Republiken, der neuen Bankiers und Kronenträger, der neuen Damen und Herren, der neuen Herrscher der Welt zu schließen. Man mußte die alte Welt begraben. Aber man mußte sie würdig begraben” (5:673).

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Chapter
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Joseph Roth's March into History
From the Early Novels to 'Radetzkymarsch' and 'Die Kapuzinergruft'
, pp. 197 - 202
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Print publication year: 2008

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  • Conclusion
  • Kati Tonkin, University of Western Australia
  • Book: Joseph Roth's March into History
  • Online publication: 05 February 2013
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  • Conclusion
  • Kati Tonkin, University of Western Australia
  • Book: Joseph Roth's March into History
  • Online publication: 05 February 2013
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Conclusion
  • Kati Tonkin, University of Western Australia
  • Book: Joseph Roth's March into History
  • Online publication: 05 February 2013
Available formats
×