From the turn of the century, when she published her first works, the German poet Else Lasker-Schüler (1869-1945) has evoked a variety of critical response and attitudes, from dismissal to the highest praise. Best known as a lyric poet, she wrote poetry and drama as well, and is recognized for her letters and graphic art; her controversial life-style and her association with many of the leading literary and artistic figures of her time, including the poet Gottfried Benn and the painter Franz March, have also attracted considerable interest.
During the Weimar years, opposing trends of criticism continued, focusing additionally on the Jewish aspects of her work. After World War II, scholars tried to revive and maintain Lasker-Schüler's reputation, and recent criticism has contributed new insights. This book is the first devoted to the corpus of Lasker-Schüler criticism in its entirety.