Lustspiele (1778)

Lustspiele, written by Christian Felix Weisse and published in 1778, is a collection of comedic plays that explore themes of love, marriage, and class distinctions in German society during the late 18th century. The book includes four plays: Der Misogyn (The Misogynist), Die Liebe auf dem Lande (Love in the Countryside), Der Prozess (The Trial), and Der Pantoffelheld (The Henpecked Husband). In Der Misogyn, a wealthy merchant named Herr von Ruprecht despises women and believes they are only good for bearing children and running a household. However, his views are challenged when he falls in love with a young woman named Henriette. Die Liebe auf dem Lande follows the story of a young couple, Luise and Friedrich, who are forbidden to marry due to their different social classes. They must navigate the obstacles of their families and societal expectations to be together. Der Prozess is a satire on the legal system, as a man named Herr von Schleicher is put on trial for a crime he did not commit. The play highlights the absurdity and corruption of the legal system in Weisse's time. Finally, Der Pantoffelheld is a comedic look at a man named Herr von Harnisch who is constantly nagged and controlled by his wife. He seeks advice from a friend on how to regain control of his life and stand up to his wife. Overall, Lustspiele provides a glimpse into the social norms and values of German society during the late 18th century while also entertaining readers with its witty and humorous plays.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.