Feudal socialism: Sigrid Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter.--Bourgeois liberalism: Thomas Mann's The magic mountain.--Socialist humanism: Martin Andersen Nexö's Pelle the conqueror.--Parallel trends in the contemporary novel.--Fascism and culture.--Conclusion: Combined human directives.-- Appendix: Correspondence with Thomas Mann; Correspondence with Nexö.