The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930 Page: 147
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A Survey of German Literature in Texas
a Catholic missionary from France, Emanuel Diomenech, wrote
his Erinnerungen an Amerika (Recollections of America), which
was published in Germany. Domenech tells of the hardships he
and his superior had to face when visiting their parishioners,
who were scattered about the wild and new country. He relates
the story of the building of the first Catholic church in Texas.
A novel, also entitled Erinnerungen, was published in Leipzig
the same year by George Willrich. This book was written while
Willrich was being held as a suspect in a political intrigue. He
was proved innocent and speedily released. Willrich's Erinner-
ungen has both Germany and Texas as background. It is one
of the few outstanding novels in our German Texas literature,
although it is not equal to Belani's Die Auswanderer each Texas
or Sealsfield's Das Kajuetenbuch), either in artistic or cultural
value.
The problems of special interest with which Willrich deals
are the "Woman Question" then taking shape, and slavery.
In 1868 Gustav Duvernoy in his Freude nach Leid oder Die
Ansiedler in Texas (Joy follows Sorrow or the Settlers in
Texas) relates the experiences of an immigrant family. The
book is well written and is not as long-drawn-out as the usual
nineteenth century tales of adventure. A definite plot runs
through the story.
Dr. Benno Mathes, traveler, scientist, lecturer, included a
treatise on Texas in his set of "Reisebilder" (Travel Pictures).
Bilder aus Texas (H. J. Zeh, DTesden, 1861) begins with an
explanation of the name Texas. Matthes believed the word to
signify the land of plenty and found it very significant. The
first picture or sketch in the little book tells of the great drouth
of 1857-1858 and of the accompanying changes in the flora and
fauna of Texas. The remainder of the book is devoted to obser-
vations and experiences on a hunting trip. In this connection,
Matthes again speaks of the vegetation and of the animal life
of Texas, but also relates significant incidents of Indian and
negro life.
In 1894 Adolf Paul Weber published a book, Deutsche Pioniere
in Texas, which contains the biographies of a number of more
or less prominent German pioneers. Weber's book also gives a
brief synopsis of Texas history, a critical sketch of the work147
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930, periodical, 1930; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101090/m1/161/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.