Franz Grillparzer (1791-1872) was the leading Austrian dramatist of the nineteenth century. His plays were and still are performed at the famous Burgtheater in Vienna. The diverse literary influences which, as he himself acknowledged, helped to shape his work have led to him being variously labeled a "Baroque" writer, a quintessentially "Austrian" writer, or a classical or Romantic writer.

His political stance - as one loyal to the Habsburg Empire yet often scathing in his attacks on its rulers and administrators - has produced similarly divergent critical accounts of Grillparzer the revolutionary, the liberal, the reactionary.

In this first comprehensive survey of criticism on Grillparzer, Dr. Roe highlights the main areas of critical debate and provides a chronological account of the major trends and developments: through periods of misunderstanding and neglect or of political appropriation in the cause of Nazism or Austrian nationalism, and through recent decades dominated by various schools of thought, whether sociological or psychoanalytical.

The book will be of interest to scholars and students of Austrian and European literature, Austrian culture, and literary theory and criticism.