STJDERMANN, II ERNI ANN ( 1857 —) . A German dramatist and novelist, born at Matzieken. East Prussia, September 30, 1857. He studied history. philology. and ture at Kiinigsberg and Berlin, and after some obscure years as tutor and journalist be won European fame and assured literary position by a drama Die (1888), and the novel Frau Sorge (1888; strans. as Dame Care, 1892). He followed these up with the novel Der Katzensicg (1889; trans. as 11( !Jim:, the stories hit Itrwiicht and a sensational drama, Soclotas Lade (1800) ; the humorous novel lolanthcs Hoch :AD (1893) : and his greatest drama, I/ciniat (1893; trans. as .1./agdu, 1895) ; a fine novel of moral psychology, Es rear (1894) ; an inferior drama, Dic schnultcrlinyssehlacht ( 1894 ) ; and bus (thick /az 'Mae/ (1896), a strong but unpleasant play. Then came three one-act dra matic scenes in verse collected under the appro priate title Norituri (1896) : Johannes (1897), a realistic dramatic presentation of the story of John the Baptist: Dic drci Reiherfedern (1898), an ethical and literary mystery in dramatic form. Es lobe des Lebcn (1902, translated The Joy of Liriny, 1902), is a powerful drama of the struggle between soul affinity and marital obligation. His work since 1894 shows failing power and has been much interrupted by sickness, but that for the six years pre ceding is. with the dramas of Hauptmann,
the most significant in contemporary Germany, powerful in conception. admirable in technique, virile in its grasp of humanity in the more som bre aspects. and with occasional touches of deli cate humor, though Sudermann is more skilled with the sterner weapons of satire. Frau Sorge is a pathetic Odyssey of duty with some romantic aberrations; Katzenstcg is a declaration of `naturalism;' lolantha Hockcit breathes the serener realism of common life; Es war is a protest against the fruitlessness of brooding re pentance. The dramas Die Ehrc, Sodom Elide, and Heisnat are all social satires and militant democratic protests. By comparison the later dramas are increasingly out of touch with mod ern life. In Die did Reiherfcdcrn the evolution has become complete transformation. To sonic it seems a deepening, to others a sinking of his dramatic power. All Sudermann's greater works are translated into English. Consult: Brandes, Nenschen and Werke (2d ed.. Frankfort. 1S95) ; Li t zma nn, Des deutsche Drama (Hamburg, 1896).