The Woman who was his Friend
The story revolves around a young woman's complicated relationship with her husband and his mistress. The wife's friend, who has been aware of the affair for some time, becomes increasingly entangled in their lives. As tensions rise, the friend finds herself caught between loyalty to her friend and her own sense of morality.
By Hermann Sudermann · First published 1906 · Genre: Drama, Romance, Psychological Fiction · 4,189 words
First lines
Oh, how tired I am, dear lady! I've been writing New Year's letters the whole day and have disposed of everything that has gone unanswered the entire year. Goodness, what ancient debts turned up! And what an awful lazybones I've been! The number of good friends that I've insulted through sheer neglect, the number of little thorns I've left sticking in people's flesh! But enough said.
I sent out New Year's cards, too, and you will also receive my card on New Year's morning with a stiff "Many wishes for a Happy New Year" and not so much as even a sugary little verse beside the 1/1/86.
What this Textopian page supports
The Woman who was his Friend is listed on Textopian as a novel by Hermann Sudermann, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Hermann Sudermann
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Psychological Fiction, Tragedy, Social Commentary
- Length: 4,189 words
- Structure: 1 section, 86 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Woman who was his Friend by Hermann Sudermann
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Woman who was his Friend?
- How does this novel by Hermann Sudermann fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Drama — The narrative focuses on intense emotional and interpersonal conflicts, exploring themes of love, friendship, and betrayal.
- Romance — Central to the story is the exploration of romantic relationships and the transition from friendship to love.
- Psychological Fiction — The work delves deeply into the characters' inner thoughts and emotions, examining their motivations and psychological states.
- Tragedy — The story concludes with a sense of inevitable downfall and emotional suffering, characteristic of tragic narratives.
Tags
Tragic Love Story · German Literature · Realism · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Friendship · Romance · Drama · Marriage · Society · Morality · Ethics