A collection of new essays bringing into view the push and pull of the national and the international in the German-language cultural field of the period. The cultural formations of the so-called Age of Nationalism (1848-1919) have shaped German-language literary studies to the present day, for better or worse. Literary histories, German self-representations, the view from abroad - all of these perspectives offer images of a culture ever more concerned with formulating a coherent, nationally focused idea of its origins, history, and cultural community. But even in this historical moment the German-speaking territories were not culturally self-contained; international forces always played a significant role in the constitution of the so-called "German" literary and cultural field. This volume rethinks the historical period with fourteen case studies that bring into view the push and pull of the national and international in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, undertaking a reframing of literary-cultural history that recognizes the interrelatedness of literatures and cultures across political and linguistic boundaries. Viewing even overtly national literary and cultural projects as belonging to an international system, these case studies examine the interrelations, organization, and positioning of the agents, forces, enterprises, and processes that constituted the German-language literary-cultural field, locating these ostensibly national developments within an inter- or even anti-national context.

This volume's Forum section focuses on new directions in eighteenth-century German studies, alongside articles on a diverse range of topics concerning Goethe and the literature and arts of his age. The Goethe Yearbook is a publication of the Goethe Society of North America, showcasing North American and international scholarship on Goethe and other authors and aspects of the Goethezeit. Volume 28 features articles on several of Goethe's signature works (Xenien, Wahlverwandtschaften, Faust), unified by their innovative approaches. It also includes a Forum section seeking to prompt discussion of new directions in eighteenth-century German studies. An essay documenting Goethe's engagement with China and another on Goethe's legacy in post-WWII Argentina emphasize these new directions. Other essays highlight Goethe's inter-arts approaches (music,theater, collecting); interdisciplinary intersections of eighteenth-century literary studies with gender and social history; media theory; and renewed emphasis on materialism. The latter is the focus of a recently convened collaboration on early nineteenth-century inventories presented in this volume. The customary book review section rounds out the volume.