Johann Elias Schlegel's Canut is a landmark of German-language drama, blending classical themes and forms with contemporary sensibilities. The play is set in tenth-century Denmark and centers on the doomed love affair between the Viking King Canut and the noblewoman Sigrid. Schlegel's versification is noted for its lyricism and rhetorical power, and his exploration of existential themes such as fate, free will, and humanity's relationship to nature is both timeless and timely. This edition includes an introduction and notes by a leading Schlegel scholar, as well as the complete text of the play.

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