The Romantic

novel by Broch

Also known as: “Pasenow oder die Romantik 1888”

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July 20, 2026

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The Romantic is the first novel in Hermann Broch's trilogy, The Sleepwalkers. Published in 1931, it chronicles the societal shifts in Europe from 1888 to World War I. The novel follows Joachim von Pasenow, a nobleman who struggles to find meaning by defying convention, ultimately marrying for status rather than love. This part of the trilogy explores the decline of romantic ideals and the rise of realism and anarchy in society. The broader The Sleepwalkers trilogy depicts the disintegration of European society and morality, culminating in the triumph of realism.12

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The Sleepwalkers
…oder die Romantik 1888 (1931; The Romantic), Esch oder die Anarchie 1903 (1931; The Anarchist), and Huguenau oder die Sachlichkeit 1918 (1932; The Realist).
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…oder die Romantik 1888 (1931; The Romantic), Esch oder die Anarchie 1903 (1931; The Anarchist), and Huguenau oder die Sachlichkeit 1918 (1932; The Realist).
Read More