In 1936, Oskar Maurus Fontana, the well-known Austrian journalist, theatre critic and writer, published Der Weg durch den Berg, the path through the mountain. The novel tells the story of the Gotthard Tunnel construction in the form of a historical tale. Fontana explained that he stayed true to the historical facts but took the liberty to interpret them freely. The historical figures Louis Favre and Alfred Escher stood model for the central characters in the book. Fontana re-tells the history of the tunnel construction as a national deed. Protagonist Louis Favre is determined to construct the Gotthard Tunnel for the benefit of his country. He readily bears all responsibilities and risks to be able to conquer the Gotthard Mountain. In his battle, he met unexpected opposition from the local population and, as it seemed, from the Gotthard Mountain itself. However, while drilling the tunnel, Favre's relation with the Gotthard Mountain changes. One day, Favre expresses his increasing doubts about his work underneath the mountains. He explains to his daughter:

The novel follows Favre's quest in finding the answer to those questions. Technology, national identity and the Gotthard Mountain play key roles in the unfolding storyline. In this fictional history, the tunnel construction forms the décor against which the writer brings idealised Swiss and universal values to the fore.

Fontana's work of fiction is just one example of multiple novels that were published on the Gotthard before, during and shortly after the Second World War. In this period, the Gotthard inspired many novelists and playwrights outside and inside Switzerland. Two radio plays, two stage plays and six novels appeared that all touched upon the themes of collective identity, Gotthard Mountains and technological change. Most of this Gotthard fictional literature falls under the heading of ‘light reading’ and fits the German category Unterhaltungsromane453 or Heimatliteratur.