Siebenkäs is a German Romantic novel by Jean Paul, published in three volumes between 1796-1797 in Berlin. As is common for Romantic novels of the period, the original title Flower, Fruit and Thorn Pieces; or, the Married Life, Death and Wedding of Siebenkäs, Poor Man's Lawyer is somewhat verbose, and is commonly abbreviated simply as Siebenkäs.

[edit] Plot

As the title suggests, the story concerns the life of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkäs, and is told in a comedic style. Unhappily married, Siebenkäs goes to consult his friend Leibgeber, who is in reality his alter ego, or Doppelgänger (a word of Jean Paul's own invention). Leibgeber convinces Siebenkäs to fake his own death, in order to begin a new life. Siebenkäs takes the advice of his alter ego, and soon meets the beautiful Natalie. The two fall in love; hence the "wedding after death," as found in the title.

[edit] External links

• Siebenkäs at Projekt Gutenberg-DE (in German)
• Siebenkäs at Google Books (English translation of Volume 2)
• Siebenkäs at the Internet Archive