Das Buch untersucht die Geschichte der Heilsarmee, ihre Rezeption in der Öffentlichkeit und Literatur in Europa und die Wirkung dieser beiden Rezeptionsgeschichten auf Brecht.
Es bespricht die paradigmatische Funktion der Heilsarmeefiguren in den verschiedenen Schaffensperioden Brechts. Durch die eingehende Untersuchung des vormarxistischen Dramas Im Dickicht der Städte und des marxistischen Stücks Die heilige Johanna der Schlachthöfe werden zugleich die Unterschiede und Parallelen in den beiden Weltanschauungen Brechts profiliert.
Es bespricht die paradigmatische Funktion der Heilsarmeefiguren in den verschiedenen Schaffensperioden Brechts. Durch die eingehende Untersuchung des vormarxistischen Dramas Im Dickicht der Städte und des marxistischen Stücks Die heilige Johanna der Schlachthöfe werden zugleich die Unterschiede und Parallelen in den beiden Weltanschauungen Brechts profiliert.
"Berger-Prößdorf's exciting analysis of Brecht's surprising fascination with the Salvation Army opens a new vista into Brecht's complex world-view." (David M. Graybeal, Drew University)
"Brecht is the most significant German playwright of our century. Professor Berger-Prößdorf's book provides new insights into the various ways this dedicated atheist who was forever fascinated by religion made use of it in his nihilistic as well as Marxist phases. Particularly illuminating is the comparative study of the role of religion in a major play of each of these phases ( In the Jungle of the Cities and St. Joan of the Stockyards).
A welcome addition to the (surprisingly) few books that treat Brecht and religion, Professor Berger-Prößdorf's study is the first to deal comprehensively with her specific topic." (Ralph J. Ley, Rutgers University)
"This work deserves attention as an important new insight into Brecht as social critic during his development toward Marxism." (William G. Plank, Eastern Montana College)
"Brecht is the most significant German playwright of our century. Professor Berger-Prößdorf's book provides new insights into the various ways this dedicated atheist who was forever fascinated by religion made use of it in his nihilistic as well as Marxist phases. Particularly illuminating is the comparative study of the role of religion in a major play of each of these phases ( In the Jungle of the Cities and St. Joan of the Stockyards).
A welcome addition to the (surprisingly) few books that treat Brecht and religion, Professor Berger-Prößdorf's study is the first to deal comprehensively with her specific topic." (Ralph J. Ley, Rutgers University)
"This work deserves attention as an important new insight into Brecht as social critic during his development toward Marxism." (William G. Plank, Eastern Montana College)