„Durch den Weltkrieg zur neuen Weltkultur“. Periphere Literaturen im deutschen Sprachraum (1914–1918)

The paper analyses the position of peripheral European literatures on the German publishing market during World War I. Statistical information retrieved from the records of publishing houses and advertisements placed in relevant journals confirm the claim that the smaller European literatures were brought to the centre of attention of German publishers and readership between 1914–1918. Moreover, specific books were frequently referred to as ‘Weltliteratur’ (world literature) by the critics and publishers. The term ‘Weltliteratur’ is analysed here in the context of World War I, because of the specific circumstances which contributed to the growing significance of smaller literatures in the German book market at the time.