The volume assembles studies on the works of Adalbert Stifter (1805-1868) and the reception accorded to them in the 19th and 20th centuries. Alongside interpretations of individual works there are also studies of recurrent motifs, and the purview ranges from questions pertaining to the genesis of texts to issues posed by the history of their impact. The volume closes with the first-ever publication of three of Adalbert Stifter's letters.

The Munich-based German Research Council-funded post-graduate research group 'Textual Criticism as a Basis and Method in Historical Studies' brought together editor and text theoreticians from the Classics, art history, musicology and philosophy. The interdisciplinary nature of the research group is reflected in the contributions to this collection, which contains smaller-scale editions and manuscript studies alongside studies on text theory and editing history. The volume marks the 65th birthday of Hans Walter Gabler, who was spokesman of the research group from 1996 to its conclusion in 2002.