Nineteenth-century German author Wilhelm Raabe was best known for the genial humor and sometimes bitter irony of his stories and novels, but German professor Brian Tucker believes Raabe engaged the political issues of his day, as well.
Presenting his research at this year's Ides of August at Wabash, Tucker noted that "when we read his stories against the backdrop of the popular press, we see more clearly how Raabe's writing engages contemporary political issues, in particular certain popular narratives of German exploration and colonialism."
Tucker also presented his research on Raabe at a conference focusing on the author in Maynooth, Ireland, in September.