Let's be honest, Clemens Brentano isn't a household name today, but this early 19th-century German writer had a knack for the quirky and the fantastical. Die mehreren Wehmüller und ungarischen Nationalgesichter (which translates roughly to 'The Several Wehmüllers and Hungarian National Faces') is a perfect example—a novella that feels both of its time and weirdly modern in its concerns.

The Story

The plot kicks off with confusion. A Hungarian town is thrown into disarray by the arrival of two men, both claiming to be the merchant Wehmüller. They’re identical. No one can tell them apart, not even Wehmüller's own wife! While the town argues over who’s the real one, a subplot unfolds about a mysterious portrait painter. This artist is said to paint faces so true, they reveal a person's deepest nature—their 'national face.' Gossip swirls that his portraits might hold a strange, almost magical power. The two storylines collide in unexpected ways, asking whether our outer appearance is a mask, a true reflection, or something an artist can actually own.

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me wasn't a sweeping epic, but the clever, almost playful anxiety at its heart. Brentano isn't just writing a mystery about doubles; he's poking at the very idea of the self. In an age of passports and national identities (a new-ish concept back then), he asks: what makes you, you? Is it your face, your name, your job? The story has a light, satirical touch—the townspeople's reactions are often hilarious in their bewilderment. It’s a quick read, but it leaves you thinking about identity theft, art, and authenticity in ways that feel surprisingly relevant now.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for readers who love classic literature but want something off the beaten path. If you enjoy the dark whimsy of E.T.A. Hoffmann or the philosophical puzzles of later writers, you'll find a fascinating ancestor here. It's also great for anyone interested in the Romantic era's obsession with doppelgängers, art, and the subconscious. Don't expect a fast-paced thriller; instead, settle in for a thoughtful, slightly bizarre, and utterly charming character study that proves some questions about who we are never get old.