Der Vater

Vater, Der, a novel by J. Klepper, published in 1937. It is sub-titled Roman eines Königs and attempts a justification of the much-vilified figure of King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia, whom Klepper sees as convinced of his kingship by divine right. His aggressive paternalism is explained by his duty to act as God the Father to his country. In this position he is constantly a prey to a remorseless self-scrutiny. His most acute spiritual crisis is the flight of the heir apparent (the future Friedrich II of Prussia), in which Klepper sides with the father.

Two minor works arose out of the historical studies for this book, Der Soldatenkönig und die Stillen im Lande (1938) and In tormentis pinxit (1939), which reproduces the strange pictures painted by the king during his sleepless nights.