Wunnigel

Wunnigel, a short novel written by W. Raabe in 1876 and published in 1879, and sub-titled Eine Erzählung. Its plot is partly common-place and partly absurd.

Dr Weyland, a young physician, in comfortable circumstances, is summoned to a woman patient in a country inn. She is Anselma, the daughter of Regierungsrat a. D. Wunnigel, and in due course the Doctor marries her and they move into his ancient house, with its rich museum-like contents. Wunnigel, whose absorbing hobby is ancient bric-à-brac and oddments, has spent the time of the courtship in an exhaustive inspection of Weyland's treasures. After the marriage Wunnigel leaves for Italy, but presently reappears a changed man, worn and furtive. Evidently in need of refuge, he shifts his quarters to the tumbledown house of 90-year-old Uhrmachermeister Brüggemann and confesses that he has made a foolish second marriage in Italy. A Russian nobleman arrives, and therewith a further Italian bêtise of Wunnigel's is uncovered: he has offered to sell the contents of Weyland's house to the Russian antiquary. Wunnigel takes to his bed and remains there despite the entreaties of his daughter, his son-in-law, and his Russian guest. The second wife arrives and departs in dudgeon, escorted by the Russian. Wunnigel dies without leaving his bed, and nonagenarian Brüggemann closes the story by passing quietly away in his sleep.

The self-willed, impulsive, bristly Wunnigel expresses himself in tortuous arabesques with extraordinary verve and vigour. Hardly less important is the anachronistic figure of Brüggemann, who in his time has been useful enough and foolish enough and now in his old age achieves complete harmony and profound understanding of his fellow men.