POLENZ, pol'6nts, Wilhelm von, German novelist: b. at Castle Oberlcunewalde, Ober Lausitz, Saxony, 14 Jan. 1861; d. there, 13 Nov. 1903. Studying at the universities of Leipzig and Berlin he fell under the spell of modern ideas. In 1891 he published his first novel (Siihne) which was followed by a drama, (Heinrich von Kleist> (1891).
His three greatest works are, (1893) • (1897). In this trilogy the three several influential personalities in the German country community are de scribed — the pastor, the independent farmer, and the lord of the manor. In the first we find the life of a pastor whose inner spiritual nature develops away from outer churchgoing forms, so that he is finally prompted to give up his parish. In the second novel the life of an older type of unprogressive farmer is depicted, whose possessions fall into the hands of usurers and when the situation becomes unbearable, he com mits suicide. In the third book the life of a Junker is described, who after tasting the pleas ures of life in a large city, returns to his an cestral estate and there learns the serious duties and responsibilities of a rich landowner.
Among his numerous other writings are the novels (1902) ; (Vol. XVII, New York 1914) ; Stern,