Karl Gutzkow (1811 1878) is a key figure of German literature between the July Revolution and the period of rapid industrialization known in Germany as the Grunderzeit. This documentation, based on the memories, diaries, letters, spies reports and newspaper correspondence of Gutzkow s contemporaries, gives a detailed picture of his life, influence and importance. With commentaries on the texts, a detailed life history, an annotated list of authors, pictures and indices, this book is a valuable source of biographical material on Gutzkow and his time.