(translation by Walter Wallich 1962)
With thanks to Persephone books for the review copy.
I don’t think I had ever heard of Effi Briest as such – I think I saw it in a list of Oxford World’s Classics a couple of years ago, and having looked at the synopsis immediately put it on my Classics Club list. However, I never did manage to get around to buying a copy. When I heard Persephone Books were re-issuing it I decided to hold out for that edition.
Effi Briest is a nineteenth century German classic – that should really stand beside Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina. A nineteenth century novel in translation written by a man, is not an obvious choice for publication by Persephone – although the themes of unequal marriage, society and the consequences of adultery make it a perfect match.
“ ‘Look, Mama: it doesn’t matter that he is older than me. Perhaps it’s even better that way. After all, he isn’t really old, and he’s healthy, vigorous, soldierly and dashing. I could almost say that everything about him was right if only… well if only he were a little different.’
‘In what way Effi?’
‘Well, you mustn’t laugh at me. It’s something that struck me only the other day, over at the parsonage. We were talking about Instetten and suddenly old Niemeyer’s eyebrows rose – in admiration and respect you see – and he said: “yes indeed, Baron Instetten is a man of character and of principles.”
‘And so he is Effi?’
‘Of course. And you see, Mama I don’t have principles. That’s what worries and frightens me. He is so good to me, so indulgent, and yet… I’m afraid of him.’
Effi Briest is a young girl – the much-loved daughter of conventional, though apparently loving parents in Hohen-Cremmen, a fictional region in Bismark’s Germany. Effi is just sixteen when we meet her – she is instantly endearing – exuberant and wonderfully full of life. She gallops around the gardens, happily gossiping with the daughters of the village schoolmaster and pastor who live nearby. In hindsight the reader can’t help but remember Effi before her marriage laughing with her friends, suffused with childlike enthusiasm, young, still so young.
Within a couple of pages of this novel, Effi is engaged to a man more than twice her age. Baron Geert von Instetten is thirty-eight – and was once in love with Effi’s mother. Effi the daughter of the one that got away. The engagement has been arranged by Effi’s parents – who it seems see nothing odd in the arrangement. Even more strangely perhaps – Effi seems perfectly happy too, although there is a sense that young Effi sees it as just one more happy incident in her golden childhood. Proud to be marrying such a handsome man, she and her mother begin buying the necessary clothes. In the first few chapters we see Effi’s life as one blessed by a happy home, Effi is still very childlike – yet even Effi’s mother notices that Effi is a little too matter of fact about her fiancé stuffing a letter which arrives from him in her pocket and only reading it much later.
“’Did you like the way Effi behaved? Did you like the whole affair? She was odd, sometimes completely naïve, and then again very self-assured and by no means as humble as she should have been towards a man of his standing. The only explanation surely, is that she is still quite unaware of how well she has done for herself. Or is it simply that she doesn’t love him properly?’
Frau von Briest was silent and counted the stitches on her embroidery. At last she said: ‘That is the shrewdest thing I have heard you say during these past three days, Briest. I have been having my doubts, too, but I don’t think there is any cause for anxiety.’”
Instetten is a high-ranking Prussian official – from Eastern Pomerania, a coastal town; Kessin is a long way away from her childhood home. The marriage takes place and Effi has a lovely time on her honeymoon, writing to her parents of all the things she sees in the company of her handsome new husband. In time Effi is taken to what will be her new home, a house which itself seems to change the tone of the whole novel, the hallway is quite dark, lit by red lamps, a few unusual objects suspended from the beams; a crocodile, a shark and a ship in full sail. The upstairs rooms remain unfurnished, the sound of curtains swishing across the empty ballroom floor – upset Effi’s imagination – as does a picture of a little Chinese man, about which Instetten has told her a story. The house is at the far end of town, close to a small wood and the road to the beach. Effi has been told by her husband that there aren’t really people of their class in the town – and in time she is taken on a round of visits to the local aristocrats – which are not wholly successful. Instetten works long hours, is frequently away from home, and Effi is alone with Joanna the servant and Rollo the wolfhound who has become her almost constant companion. Frequently alarmed by the sounds she hears from the empty rooms above, Effi is also homesick for Hohen-Cremmen and the young girls she spent so much time with once. One good friend, aside from the faithful Rollo, however is Gieshübler the hunchbacked apothecary.
It isn’t long before Effi – hardly out of childhood herself is a mother, to a little girl, Anna. Effi engages Roswitha as a nurse – and in time Roswitha proves to be a stalwart of support to Effi as the years ahead alter her fortunes considerably. Effi is still alone too much, and is ripe for manipulation by a dashing Major who comes to live nearby. Fontane doesn’t dwell on the specifics of Effi’s relationship with Crampas, it’s all deeply shaded in suggestion. We realise however, that there will be consequences for Effi particularly. Instetten is a man of rigid principles – and society so very unforgiving.
I don’t want to say too much more about the plot – as I suspect a lot of people will be reading this novel now – I certainly hope so. It is a wonderful novel, compelling and compassionate. Theodor Fontane seems only to be judging society – his sympathies I am sure, like the readers own are always with Effi. This is a novel which deserves to be widely read – I loved every word.
Lovely review, Ali. Even though this book has been on my radar for quite a while, I’ve never really had a good feel for the story until now. Your review has given me a much clearer idea of what to expect from it. As you say, an unusual choice for Persephone, but the focus on Effi makes it a good fit.
Yes I didn’t really know much about the story before I read it. It seems to be less known than other books of the period.
Funnily enough, I just recently came across Theodor Fontane — though in a different context (his travel writing on the Brandenburg region of Germany). I think, like you, I have a vague memory of having heard about Effi Briest before but didn’t know anything specific about it. I’d like to get hold of a copy and perhaps read it as a pair with Madame Bovary, which I’ve never read.
I re-read Madame Bovary a couple of years ago. I loved it although Emma Bovary is far less sympathetic than Effi – who is just charming.
I too saw this in the latest Persephone brochure and was intrigued, but, having read your review, I think I am going to have to succumb to temptation!
Oh good! 😊 My work is done.
Great review Ali! I was aware of the book, and in fact I have a non-Persephone copy lurking somewhere. Odd that the book isn’t so well known and I must get onto it soon!
Yes, now that I have read it, I am surprised the novel isn’t better known.
I will be reading the novel towards the end of the month and I am already excited. I have an idea about what to expect from Effi Briest, thanks to the review
I really look forward to see what you think. Really hope you love it.
Wow, this sounds amazing! I had no idea what it was about but had tossed the title onto my wishlist a while ago, simply because it’s a German classic, and I’ve never read one. I’ll definitely read this now!
Oh good, really hope you enjoy it too.
I’m certainly pleased to see a review of this. One of the greatest German novels. In continental Europe, there’s no doubt it’s equal to Mme Bovary and Anna Karenina.
During my first or second German Literatre Month, we did a readalong of this.
It’s one of only a few novels I’ve read more than once. That and Emma Bovary. Interestingly, Emma Bovary left me cold – I LOVE the writing but emotionally, i wasn’t touched but this one made me cry. And that never happens to me.
If you liked this, you might love his other novels too. They aren’t as sad but just as good. Jenny Treibel and Under the Paer Tree, for example.
There are quite a few movies of this as well.
Yes I would like to read his other books so thank you for the recommendations.
This sounds wonderful! Definitely one that goes straight to the top of the list!
I can see it going on lots of wish lists. Really hope you get to read it soon.
A favourite of Samuel Beckett, who read it annually. It is also referenced in Krapp’s Tape. Always meant to read it.
Interesting, I don’t know anything about Krapp’s Tape – off to look that up.
Beckett, and others, on Effi Briest.
Thank you.
I’m really, really hoping to get this as a gift next week for Mother’s Day — my husband and kids know how I love Persephones and they nearly always buy me books! Though I suppose it’s a rather odd choice for a Mother’s Day gift, isn’t it?
A book you will love is never an odd choice. I hope your family get the message. 😊
I have a Penguin or an Oxford edition of this and will now get it off the shelf! I have heard it described as “the German Anna Karenina” and to judge from your review that was accurate. I do wonder why Persephone published a book that is already in print. I’m going to check and see if they have their own translator!
This is a 1962 translation which is different I believe to the Penguin and Oxford editions. Really hope you enjoy it.
[…] started May reading Effi Briest by Theador Fontane, one of the latest Persephone titles, it is a German classic which unusually for […]
[…] (I read the Penguin Classics version translated by Hugh Rorrison and Helen Chambers. Persephone Books has also published a translation by Walter Wallich that was reviewed by Ali at her blog: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2017/05/08/effi-briest-theodor-fontane-1895/). […]