1315-1529 Swiss Wars

Among the best critics, essayists and biographers of the day are C. A. Bernoulli, notable for his books on Nietzsche (I 91 0), Bach ofen, and others, and also the author of plays and novels, G. Bohnenblust (see above) ; Emil Ermatinger, an authority on Ger man literature and author of a vigorous romance (Der Weg ins Leben) ; 0 von Greyerz (see above) ; R. Faesi (q.v.) ; and Ed uard Korrodi. Among historians we may note Wilhelm Oeschsli, whose admirable History of Switzerland from 1419 to 1919, has been turned into English by E. and C. Paul (1922) ; Eduard Fueter, author of Die Schweiz seit 1848 (1927); and Ernst Gag liardi, author of Dokumente zur Geschichte des Burgermeisters Hans Waldmann, and of Geschichte der Schweiz, of which the concluding volume, covering the history of Switzerland from 1848 to 1926, appeared in 1927.

French established itself in the 13th century as the written language and the vehicle of law in the districts which form French Switzerland. Between that time and the Reformation, how ever, little original literature was produced. Some chronicles, a few fragments of mysteries, and one or two romances printed at Geneva towards the end of the 15th century, are almost all that remain. The literary age begins with the intellectual impetus sup plied by the Reformation. The Histoire litteraire de Geneve, published by Senebier in 1786, gives an idea of the abundant literary production of a single Swiss city.

The Age of Rousseau.

Even in the i8th century it cannot be said that a national literature existed in French Switzerland. Yet at this period the Protestant cities of refuge became intensely interested in literature, and taste began to be cultivated by the patrician and bourgeois classes. The atmosphere of the Reforma tion mingled with that of the i8th century. French Switzerland has at no time been more cosmopolitan in the best sense of the word; it has never been a more brilliant intellectual centre or a more active laboratory of new ideas.

The works of Rousseau and Madame de Stael, and Benjamin Constant's Adolphe, are the main contributions of Switzerland to French literature during the i8th and early 19th centuries.

The Swiss literary movement, which became more national in the last century, stood somewhat apart from that of France. The Swiss writers are given to thought and self-examination; they are seekers after truth, less ready to complain of destiny than to acknowledge their own shortcomings, plain citizens who are at the same time dreamers. The greatest modern novelist of French Switzerland, C. F. Ramuz, is principally famous for the pictures he gives of his native country; the same is true of the poet Juste Olivier, and, still earlier, of the racy stories of Rodolphe Topffer.

Vinet and Amiel.

Although, however, the writers who de scribe the picturesque features of local life occupy an important place in French Swiss literature—they are, indeed, primarily depicters of their land and their nation, and only secondarily novelists or short story writers—the first place is due not so much to them as to the critics and moralists. It was Vinet (1797– 1847) and Amiel (1821-81) who first extended the intellectual prestige of French Switzerland beyond the frontiers.

Among the poets of French Switzerland, very few reveal a stormy temperament or make their passions and their griefs the subject of their art. Swiss lyrical poetry is the product of a

happy people. Sometimes it is religious in character, and some times an Alpine note is struck (Juste Olivier, 1807-76, Eugene Rambert, H. Warnery).

Writers of Fiction.

It is curious that the interest in moral observation and self-analysis which prevailed in the 19th cen tury should not have led to the development of the analytical novel. Topffer (I799—I847) wrote short stories of middle-class life and imaginative sketches, descriptions of things seen in wanderings through the town or among the mountains. Eugene Rambert was a writer of Alpine idylls. Philippe Monnier (1864 1911), also a humanist, wrote detailed descriptions of Geneva and of his own village. It is not surprising that a Genevese, V. Cherbuliez (1829-90) should have created the cosmopolitan novel in France. Edouard Rod (1857-1910), who also gained fame in Paris, betrays his French Swiss origin by the interest he shows in the internal moral conflicts of his characters.

Early in the present century a change began to take place both in the spirit and in the technique of the literature of French Switzerland. The didactic, moral and eclectic elements—the Protestant spirit, in short—have become less conspicuous. The past is almost repudiated. There is still a lack of dramatic litera ture (though mention should be made of the rustic theatre of Mezieres, Vaud and of R. Morax). The modern poets write in an easier style than their predecessors (Henry Spiess, R. L. Pia chaud, P. Girard). Even now, there are more descriptive writers and recorders of rural life than novelists proper. The chief names are those of the Vaudois writer C. F. Ramuz, B. Vallotton, Noelle Roger (1874– ), and the creators of the new analytical school, Robert de Traz (1884– ) and Jacques Cheneviere.

Italian Switzerland is best known by its artists, while its litera ture is naturally subject to strong Italian influences, and not to any of a strictly Swiss nature. Stefano Franscini (1796-1857) did much for his native land, especially in educational matters, while his chief published work (1835) was one that gave a general account of the canton of Ticino. But this is not so thorough and good as a later book by Luigi Lavizzari (1814-1875), entitled Escursioni nel cantone Ticino (1863) which is very complete from all points of view. Angelo Baroffio (d. 1893) and Emilio Motta represent the historical sciences, the latter contributing much to the Bolletino della Svizzera Italiana (from 1870 on wards), which, though mainly historical, devotes much space to literary and historical matters relating to the canton. The art of novel writing does not flourish in Ticino. But it has produced a great number of poets such as Pietro Peri (1794-1869), who translated the Swiss national anthem into Italian, J. B. Buzzi (1825-1898), Giovanni Airoldi (died before 1900) and Carlo Cioccari (1829-1891)—the two former were lyric poets, and the third a dramatist. The younger poets are F. Chiesa and M. A. Nessi. Possibly the most conspicuous literary figure of the moment is Luigi Zoppif, who wrote L'Esteta.