Confrontations

Exploring the influence of German philosophical and critical ideas on English and American literature, this collection features six essays by René Wellek, including one previously unpublished piece. The essays delve into the contrasts between German and English Romanticism, and analyze the impact of German thought on writers like Carlyle and De Quincey. Additionally, Wellek reflects on the New England Transcendentalists, particularly Emerson's engagement with German philosophy, highlighting the cross-cultural exchanges that shaped literary movements.