„L’amour faux“: Ferdinand von Saars „Sappho” (1904) und die Figur des ‚Liebestölpels’

From literary realism to the ‘Chick Lit’ of the early 21st century, falling in love may cause problems for at least one of the lovers – especially when the relationship does not meet the expectations raised by literary or filmic works. Hence, the self-expression and selfdramatization fails, for instance when the lovesick Lichutin wants to commit suicide in Belyj’s “Petersburg” (1911) or Großmann tries to propose to Mathilde Möhring in “Fontane’s” novel (1895). Using the example of Ferdinand von Saars novella “Sappho” (1904) and along with theoretical and cultural-historical remarks, this paper introduces the literary figure of the ‘Liebestölpel’ (love-fool).