Max Herrmann-Neisse wrote Empörung + Andacht, Ewigkeit (which translates roughly to 'Outrage + Devotion, Eternity') in the 1920s, a time of wild artistic energy and deep social unease in Germany. This isn't a novel with a single plot, but a powerful mix of poems and short prose pieces. It acts as a diary of a sensitive observer watching his society transform at a dizzying speed.

The Story

There isn't a linear story here. Instead, the book moves between moments of intense feeling. One poem might scream with anger ('Empörung') at the coldness of the new industrial city. The next might sit in quiet, almost religious reflection ('Andacht') on a fleeting moment of beauty or a memory of a vanishing way of life. The thread connecting it all is the search for something permanent ('Ewigkeit' or eternity) in a world that feels increasingly temporary and chaotic.

Why You Should Read It

What stunned me was how current it feels. Herrmann-Neisse wasn't just writing about 1920s Berlin; he was writing about the human stress of change. His outrage at injustice feels fresh, and his longing for meaning is something I think we all wrestle with today. You can feel his loneliness and his fierce intelligence on every page. It's like having a conversation with a brilliant, troubled friend from another century.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love poetry that punches you in the gut, or for anyone curious about the human side of history. It's not a light, easy read—it demands your attention—but it's a short, potent shot of insight. If you enjoyed the mood of works by Rilke or the early portraits of modern anxiety, you'll find a kindred spirit in Herrmann-Neisse. A forgotten voice that desperately deserves to be heard again.