Helbig’s supposed grasp of the author’s meaning

Meaning

An elliptical phrase through which Helbig presents what he takes to be the author’s meaning. The supplied English adds “grasped” to make the clause readable; that verb has no corresponding printed German word here. The scope immediately narrows to the beginning and middle of the work, followed by an admission that Helbig has never himself made the final result. The phrase therefore cannot bear an unqualified claim of completed practical mastery.