The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald

This is a historical novel, in one sense, because it is based on true events in the life of Friedrich von Hardenberg, a young philosophy student in late-18th-century Germany, who later gained fame as the Romantic poet Novalis. In contrast with most historical fiction, however, it tells little of the grand events going on at the time, concentrating more on the changes in intellectual thought. Friedrich falls impetuously in love with the ordinary-seeming twelve-year-old Sophie, but it seems that he loves what she represents to him more than he loves her as a real person--he calls her "My Philosophy." He writes an introduction to a story in which he says,"...I long to see the blue flower. It lies incessantly at my heart, and I can imagine and think about nothing else." Sophie seems to represent the flower to him, and perhaps it and she are symbolic of a search for inspiration, innocence, nature, and love.

This is one of those books that would seem to require background knowledge for full appreciation, in this case a knowledge of German Romanticism (which I lack, unfortunately). It does provide interesting details about daily life at the time. For instance, the progressive medical thought prescribed alternating doses of whiskey and opium, to maintain a healthy balance. I imagine anyone would feel better after such a treatment.

Fitzgerald's writing here is very direct and uncomplicated, yet has a strange gracefulness. Unexpected flashes of humor occur now and then. Though the plot has the essential ingredients of tragedy, it is not emotionally involving at all. On a scale of 1-5, I would give this one a 3.