Gallus

Historical Fictionalisations Are Popular With A Wide Readership Today. The Better Examples Avoid Expediency With Historical Fact But Bring Dramatic Life To Otherwise Dry Chronology. It Is Therefore Surprising To Find Sober German Historical Erudition Utilising A Fictional Narrative To Impart A Copious Amount Of Detail. However This Style Found A Readership Far Wider Than Just The Scholarly. By Combining Historical Learning With Dramatisation Gallus Published In 1838 Became A Best-Seller In Germany And Was Quickly Translated For The English Market. Perhaps Not To The Taste Of The English However Was The Somewhat Burdensome Apparatus Of The Notes Which Broke The Narrative After Each Section. These Were Distilled And Placed As Footnotes So That The Narrative Flowed Freely. The Depth Of Learning Which Abounds Throughout The Book Is An Attribute Of This Significant Work Which Should Not Be Overlooked When Engaging With The Novelty Of Its Approach.