El matrimonio secreto de Fridolin

Fridolin's Secret Marriage (1875) occupies a unique place in the history of homoerotic literature. Published at the height of bourgeois morality, it narrates a mutual crush between two men with a happy ending, justifying all the love options in a brash parody of Platonic dialogues, and does so in a comedy tone that has not lost its relevance or freshness. It was published without diminishing its prestige by a famous author at the time, Adolf Wilbrandt (1837-1911), as a tribute to a friend who had a predilection for boys. The work vindicates the entire range of affective varieties and praises the authentic as natural, and not a supposed pre-established order; all its endearing characters get a prize at the end of the novel. Presenting such a radical message under the guise of a sitcom was a bold move, but also a smart one; the author's talent and grace do the rest, and today it is worth reading Fridolin's Secret Marriage as not only a pioneering and highly original piece, but also joyful and suitable for the widest audience.