SOURCE: "The Historical Novel," in Modern German Literature, 1880-1950, Methuen & Co., Ltd., 1939, pp. 381-87.

In the following essay, Bithell identifies elements of classical Liberalism in Frank's historical novels.

Bruno Frank has expressionistic humanity and a fine Jewish culture, but in style and outlook he is a solid, sensible Liberal, almost old-fashioned (by comparison) in his directness of expression. His historical novel Die Tage des Königs (1924) is a scholarly well-documented study of Frederick the Great, who also dominates the scene in Trench, Roman eines Günstlings (1926), a lively picture of Prussian rococo. Bruno Frank's enlightened Liberalism shines out from Politische Novelle (1928), a discussion rather than a story, which rejects the plea that antagonism between France and Germany is a necessary evil and in its vivid pen-pictures of Briand (as Dorval) and of Stresemann (as Carmer) shows how elementary the idea of permanent peace really is. His vie romanc...