Description
The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald is a historical literary novel set in late eighteenth-century Germany, exploring themes of love, idealism and intellectual awakening.
The story centres on Friedrich von Hardenberg, later known as the Romantic poet Novalis, and his intense emotional and philosophical attachment to the young Sophie von Kühn. Their unusual engagement unsettles their families and social circle, raising questions about reason, passion and the boundaries between lived reality and romantic idealism.
Written with Fitzgerald’s characteristic precision, wit and subtlety, The Blue Flower blends historical detail with philosophical depth, offering a nuanced portrait of early Romantic thought and the tensions between imagination and everyday life.
