Adelbert von Chamisso Livres

Asked which book by another author he would most like to claim as his own work, Italo Calvino once said without hesitation, Adelbert von Chamisso's Peter Schlemiel. First published in 1814, this brilliant novel is not only a precursor of Poe, Kafka, and the magic realists - it is a timeless fable with a remarkably contemporary flavor. When a mysterious man in a gray coat asks Peter Schlemiel if he would sell him his shadow, that "lovely, lovely shadow" of his, he naturally thinks the man must be mad. But then the stranger makes him an offer he can't refuse. In return for his shadow, Schlemiel receives a neverending source of riches, and he is convinced he is on the road to happiness. Yet he finds that without a shadow he is rejected by society and unable to find the fulfillment of love. After a series of fantastic adventures, Peter Schlemiel realizes that he must discover a new way to give his life meaning if he is to go on in the world. Adelbert von Chamisso was born in France, but moved at an early age to Prussia, where he lived during the Franco-Prussian war. Chamisso felt that he belonged equally to both war-torn cultures. Peter Schlemiel was written soon after Prussia's defeat by Napoleon, and was Chamisso's answer to a world in turmoil. The novel was an immediate success, and it catapulted him to international fame. Peter Wortsman's new translation lets us rediscover all the charm wit, and power of this classic tale. In his introduction he gives us the historical background of the novel and traces its influence on the literature of the twentieth century.

The narrative unfolds a sense of wonder and disbelief as the protagonist witnesses a series of astonishing events. A character named Adelbert produces three magnificent horses from his pocket, following an array of seemingly impossible items, including a letter-case and a large pavilion. This surreal ability evokes both unease and fascination, hinting at themes of magic and the extraordinary in everyday life. The story explores the boundaries of reality and the unexpected marvels that can emerge from the mundane.

The story follows Peter Schlemihl, a young man who naively trades his shadow for wealth, gaining a magical purse that grants him endless riches. However, his newfound fortune comes with a heavy price, as he faces ridicule and ostracism for his unusual condition. Ultimately, Peter learns that the loss of his shadow brings greater suffering than the poverty he sought to escape, highlighting themes of identity, societal acceptance, and the true cost of material wealth.

The most famous of Adelbert von Chamisso's works, about a man who sells his shadow to the devil. It was written partly to divert his own thoughts and partly to amuse the children of his friend Ferdinand Hitzig. Schlemihl is also a synonym of one who makes a desperate or silly bargain.

Wie viele Autoren braucht es, um einen Roman so richtig zu vergeigen? Vier Romantiker planen, gemeinsam einen Roman zu schreiben: Hoffmann, Chamisso, Salice-Contessa, Fouqué. Eine Handlungsskizze ist schnell entworfen, ein Anfang schnell geschrieben, aus dem sich alles Weitere – wie man annimmt: zwingend – ergeben wird. Doch dann erschlägt der zweite Autor die wichtigste Figur des ersten, der dritte Autor schickt die Nebenfiguren nach Polen und der vierte lässt vollkommen unmotiviert eine wahnsinnige Hexe mit einem weissagenden Raben auftreten. Ein heilloses literarisches Durcheinander, genial verplant, hochamüsant!