1 1
-4-
undmenbtedly his most ambitious, even though not perhaps his most
successful work. The novel “suffers” somewhat from lack of external
action and too much discussion. A young baron falls in love with a
Jewish girl. His Nassociation with her brings him into contact with
various types of Viennese J déwe and the Jewish problem in Austria
fills accordingly not a few of the pages. although the young baron
feels that the girl does not share their characteristics, he is dis-
turbed by her loyalty to the members of her race. He isels that she
moves in a different world from his, and he is believed when their
child dies at birth. He leaves her in order to find his way out into
the open. But there does not seem to be any logical necessity for
his breaking with her to find his way to freedom. Moreover, his awa-
koning to the serious problem of life is not well blended with the
tragedy of the young Jewish who yearns to rise above the sordidness
of her environment, and yet cannot break the ties that bind her to it.
But the love story is only of secondary importance. The great value
of the book lies in the subtle characterization, in the richness of
thought, in the many deep reflections on life, and in the discussion
of the vital problem of the day. "Der Weg Ins Freie gehört zu den
unerschöpflichen Büchern", weites Robert Specht, "zu denen man immer
wiederkehrt; zu denen, die zuerst spielerisch, ja manchmal tändelnd
und oberflächlich scheinen und die dann immer tiefere Kreise ent-
hüllen, weil es ein Lebensbuch ist.” And Albert Soergel: "Staunens-
wert bleibt, wie zwanglos um diese Liebesnovelle die Ausschnitte aus
dem jüdischen Wien gruppiert sind, wie zwanglos mit dem Fortrücken
der Handlung und Charakteristik der Liebenden die Charaktoristik einer
grossen Zahl jüdischer Typen jeden Alters, Standes, und Geschlechts
vorrückt, wie mit dem Abschluss der Geschichte der Liebenden auch die
-4-
undmenbtedly his most ambitious, even though not perhaps his most
successful work. The novel “suffers” somewhat from lack of external
action and too much discussion. A young baron falls in love with a
Jewish girl. His Nassociation with her brings him into contact with
various types of Viennese J déwe and the Jewish problem in Austria
fills accordingly not a few of the pages. although the young baron
feels that the girl does not share their characteristics, he is dis-
turbed by her loyalty to the members of her race. He isels that she
moves in a different world from his, and he is believed when their
child dies at birth. He leaves her in order to find his way out into
the open. But there does not seem to be any logical necessity for
his breaking with her to find his way to freedom. Moreover, his awa-
koning to the serious problem of life is not well blended with the
tragedy of the young Jewish who yearns to rise above the sordidness
of her environment, and yet cannot break the ties that bind her to it.
But the love story is only of secondary importance. The great value
of the book lies in the subtle characterization, in the richness of
thought, in the many deep reflections on life, and in the discussion
of the vital problem of the day. "Der Weg Ins Freie gehört zu den
unerschöpflichen Büchern", weites Robert Specht, "zu denen man immer
wiederkehrt; zu denen, die zuerst spielerisch, ja manchmal tändelnd
und oberflächlich scheinen und die dann immer tiefere Kreise ent-
hüllen, weil es ein Lebensbuch ist.” And Albert Soergel: "Staunens-
wert bleibt, wie zwanglos um diese Liebesnovelle die Ausschnitte aus
dem jüdischen Wien gruppiert sind, wie zwanglos mit dem Fortrücken
der Handlung und Charakteristik der Liebenden die Charaktoristik einer
grossen Zahl jüdischer Typen jeden Alters, Standes, und Geschlechts
vorrückt, wie mit dem Abschluss der Geschichte der Liebenden auch die