This book, completed shortly before Peter Stern's death in 1991, studies works by twelve major writers of German modernism, including Thomas Mann, Musil, Brecht and Rilke, in relation to the history of the twentieth century.

Foreword by Nicholas Boyle; Editor's preface; Introduction; 1. The theme; 2. Reality; 3. Relativity; 4. The Great War; 5. The purchase of poetry; 6. Rendering account; 7. A deliverance of sorts; 8. Postscript: the divided self; Notes; Index.