Soll und Haben
Soll und Haben, a three-volume novel by G. Freytag, published in 1855. The title-page bears as a motto a quotation from Freytag's journalist friend Julian Schmidt: ‘Der Roman soll das deutsche Volk da suchen, wo es in seiner Tüchtigkeit zu finden ist, nämlich bei seiner Arbeit.’
Its central figure, Anton Wohlfart, enters, at his father's death, the firm T. O. Schröter in Breslau. There he is well treated and his intelligence and industry enable him to make rapid progress until he is working as Schröter's own right-hand man. A young nobleman, Herr von Fink, joins the firm and in his company Anton frequents aristocratic circles and begins to stray from the burgher environment. In particular, he is drawn to the daughter of a Baron von Rothsattel, apparently a man of wealth, but in reality near to ruin and in the hands of two competing Jews, Ehrenthal and Itzig. Anton shows his sterling worth by supporting his principal and even saving his life during a Polish rising. Freytag is clearly a supporter of East German colonization who distrusts the Slavs. When the Rothsattel family ask Anton to help liquidate the estate he accepts, giving up his post with Schröter. He carries out his duties with efficiency, but, when he finds that Rothsattel regards him as of a lower order, he returns to Schröter's at Breslau, marries Schröter's sister Sabine and becomes a partner. Lenore von Rothsattel marries Herr von Fink, and Anton is able to retrieve for them a proportion of the once great Rothsattel fortune. Itzig murders an accomplice and is drowned trying to make his escape.
The novel extols the integrity, industry, and efficiency of the German merchant, living up to the motto on the title-page. Well into the 20th c. it continued to be regarded by the general reading public as one of the great novels of the 19th c. It retains interest as a major Zeitroman.
