From Opitz to Lessing

"From Opitz to Lessing" by Thomas Sergeant Perry is a scholarly and insightful survey of German literary development from the early 17th to the mid-18th century. The book traces the evolution of German poetry and criticism from Martin Opitz, often regarded as the father of German literature, through various key literary figures, culminating in Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, a central figure of the German Enlightenment.
Perry explores how German literature gradually matured, influenced by classical ideals, religious change, and enlightenment philosophy. The book analyzes the cultural, philosophical, and aesthetic shifts that shaped literary forms and ideas, providing both historical background and literary criticism. It offers readers a broad view of how German literature transitioned from baroque formalism to enlightenment rationalism and emotional depth.
"From Opitz to Lessing" is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1885.