No Hamlets

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'No Hamlets' offers a critical examination of Shakespeare's influence on the political right in Germany from 1871 to the Cold War era. Andreas Höfele begins with Friedrich Nietzsche and traces the engagement with Shakespeare through figures such as Stefan George and Ernst Kantorowicz, as well as the literary efforts of young Joseph Goebbels during the Weimar Republic. The study continues with the Shakespeare debate in the Third Reich and its aftermath, particularly the controversy surrounding 'inner emigration,' culminating in Carl Schmitt's writings on Shakespeare in the 1950s. A central theme is the identification of German intellectuals with Hamlet, reflecting a complex relationship with Shakespeare that is both personal and political. However, Hamlet is not the sole focus; Höfele also uncovers Carl Schmitt's intense engagement with Othello, a topic previously unexplored. This work adds historical depth to the growing interest in German philosophy and political thought within Shakespeare studies. By illuminating the connections between Shakespeare's reception and German history from the 1870s to 1989, Höfele reveals how individual interpretations and broader cultural appropriations of Shakespeare have shaped and been shaped by significant historical contexts.