Summary of I Loved a German
Oskar, an Estonian university student, and Erika, a Baltic German woman, fall in love in the 1920s. Since Estonia’s recent independence after World War I, the Baltic Germans have lost their aristocratic status, but ethnic prejudices continue to run deep. Oskar grapples with his feelings for Erika, questioning whether he really loves her or if he is subconsciously seeking to align himself with her family’s noble ancestry.
Reasons to read I Loved a German
“I Loved a German” is both a love story and an allegorical exploration of Estonia’s national identity and the position of Baltic Germans within the country. A. H. Tammsaare was a leading figure within Estonian literature. “I Loved a German” is regarded as one of his masterpieces. Other notable works by Tammsaare include “Devil with a False Passport” and his pentalogy “Truth and Justice”, five novels chronicling developments in Estonian society in the years between 1870 and 1930.
Setting: Tartu (Estonia)
Original title: Ma armastasin sakslast
Year of publication: 1935
Nr of pages: 226
