Germanic Literatures

This book is the first academic treatment of the poetry of Anton Schnack (1892-1973): his work is not well known, even in Germany. It argues that Tier rang gewaltig mit Tier (1920) is a uniquely innovative volume of war poetry, particularly when placed in context with previous German war poetry and the development of the sonnet cycle. It is also discussed in relation to Schnack's other lyrical work, including the three volumes of Expressionist poetry which immediately preceded it and which themselves are analysed as examples of a very powerful kind of Expressionism. Schnack did not publish his next volume of verse until 1936, followed by three more between 1947 and 1953. These four collections are examined in the light of Schnack's decision to stay in southern Germany and to maintain a consistently low profile.

Chris Waller read French and German at Cambridge. His Ph.D thesis at the University of London was published as Expressionist Poetry and its Critics in the Bithell Series of Dissertations (1986). He later completed an Oxford D.Phil on the poetry of Anton Schnack. With Douglas Scott, he has translated Kafka's The Trial (Picador, 1977). He has been Head of Modern Languages at a number of schools, and has served as Headmaster of Eltham College.