Effi Briest

3.3 avg 17017 votes 941 reviews 12929 want to read

About this book

Unworldly young Effi Briest is married off to Baron von Innstetten, an austere and ambitious civil servant twice her age, who has little time for his new wife. Isolated and bored, Effi finds comfort and distraction in a brief liaison with Major Crampas, a married man with a dangerous reputation. But years later, when Effi has almost forgotten her affair, the secret returns to haunt her - with fatal consequences. In taut, ironic prose Fontane depicts a world where sexuality and the will to enjoy life are stifled by vain pretences of civilization, and the obligations of circumstance. Considered to be his greatest novel, this is a humane, unsentimental portrait of a young woman torn between her duties as a wife and mother and the instincts of her heart.

3.3 ★★★☆☆ average of 2 sources · 17017 votes
Open Library 3.3 6
1★2★3★4★5★
Goodreads 3.3 17017

941 reviews · 12,929 want to read · 661 reading now

Reader Profile

Enjoyment66Difficulty100Influence100Popularity60Classic100

3.3/5 · 17017 readers · 306 pages · ≈ 5 h 40 m · Demanding

How long does it take to read Effi Briest?

About ≈ 5 h 40 m — 306 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.Typical novel≈ 5 h 56 mEffi Briest~5 h 40 m

How many pages is Effi Briest?

306 pages in its most-read edition.Typical novel320Effi Briest306

What genre is Effi Briest?

It sits on the Poetry, Fiction shelves.

Has Effi Briest been made into a movie or TV show?

Yes — screen adaptations include Effi Briest (2009), Effi Briest (1977), Effi Briest (1976), Effi Briest (1975).

Is Effi Briest in the public domain?

Yes — it is free to read and share.

Who are the main characters in Effi Briest?

The main characters include Theodor Fontane (1819-1898).

Where does Effi Briest take place?

It is set in Berlin (Germany), Prussia, Germany during 19th century.

Who wrote Effi Briest?

Theodor Fontane.

Where can I read Effi Briest online for free?

It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library

Setting Berlin (Germany)PrussiaGermany Time period 19th century Characters Theodor Fontane (1819-1898)
Effi Briest ★ 3.3 · 2 sources Read free Check price →