“ All Auerbach's longer work is overweighted with philosophy and a leaden humor. He is best in emotional situations and the sentiments of simple natures; excellent in description, but weak in the management of plot. Still, Auf der Höhe has enough inherent reality to triumph over its faults, is still read and worth reading. Auerbach's talent appears to best advantage in the Dorfgeschichten and in such modest stories as Barfüssele, Edelweiss, and Brigitta. Consult Zabel, Berthold Auerbach (Berlin, 1882) . ”