For the Right by Karl Emil Franzos is a compelling work of historical fiction that delves into political drama and social justice. Set in the 19th century, the novel explores the complex interplay of morality and ethics amidst cultural conflicts and revolutionary fervor. Franzos presents a richly detailed narrative that captures the essence of a turbulent era, highlighting the struggles and ideals of its characters. The story intricately weaves themes of conflict and personal conviction, portraying a vivid picture of the social and political landscape of the time. Through deep character development, For the Right examines the clash between personal beliefs and societal expectations, offering a thought-provoking reflection on the pursuit of justice and righteousness. This novel stands out in German literature for its profound engagement with the moral dilemmas and revolutionary spirit of its period.
Karl Emil Franzos (25 October 1848 - 28 January 1904) was a popular late-nineteenth-century Austrian novelist. His reportage and fiction focus on the multi-ethnic corner of Galicia, Podolia, and Bukovina, which is now primarily in western Ukraine, where the Habsburg and Russian empires collided. This place became so synonymous with his name that one critic dubbed it "Franzos country." Several of his writings were translated into English, and Gladstone is known to have been a fan. Karl Emil Franzos was born near the town of Czortków (Chortkiv) in the Austrian Kingdom of Galicia's eastern, Podolian area. His ancestors were Sephardi Spanish Jews who fled the Inquisition to Holland and eventually settled in Lorraine. In the 1770s, his great-grandfather founded a factory for one of his sons in East Galicia, which had been ruled by the Habsburg dynasty since Poland's First Partition in 1772. When the Austrian state ordered Jews to acquire surnames, his grandfather's name was changed to "Franzos" because of his French ancestry, despite the fact that he considered himself German. Heinrich (1808-1858), Franzos's father, was a well-known doctor in Czortków. Because there was no state called "Germany" at the time, his German identity was primarily linguistic and cultural in nature.