Shockheaded peter or slovenly peter as it is mostly known in english speaking countries has conquered the childrens book market of the world not only with dozens of translations but also literally hundreds of. Struwwelpeter project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The 19thcentury book of horrors that scared german kids. Hoffmann wrote struwwelpeter in response to a lack of good children s books. In the original edition of heinrich hoffmans 1845 german childrens book, the most famous character struwwelpeter. The redlegged scissorman from struwwelpeter, a famous german childrens book that is, while of undisputed literary value, just completely fucking ter. The gruesome story of little suckathumb is from struwwelpeter heinrich hoffman, 1845, a very popular childrens book it saw over 100 editions by 1876, originally in german of cautionary lessons for young children, told in rhyming couplets and with a dark sense of humor that would send todays children into therapy. Shockheaded peter serves up naughty children and their. It is macabre, but so was much great childrens writing before the saccharinization of childrens books and films. Fearful stories and vile pictures to instruct good little folks. The story of the thumbsucker gc6tcz9 was created by bearded zombie on 9222016. Its known as one of the first books to put together pictures and words in a book meant specifically for children.
Literally translated, struwwel peter means shaggypeter. The title of the first story provides the title of the whole book. Today he is best remembered for what is perhaps the most infamous educational childrens poetry collection of all time. Written in rhyming couplets and illustrated by the author, the book was an immediate. Struwwelpeter the story of little suck a thumb masacciomasaccio. All credit goes to my germanspeaking mom, although im not sure if she shared this book with my siblings and me because she thought it was a funny book or was trying to scare us straight.
Reading this also brought to mind a big book of illustrated childrens verses that my grandmother had given me as a gift. I stumbled upon this german book of children s verses. In the 19th century, a german psychiatrist and writer wrote a childrens book which, if published today, would cause an outrageous scandal. The fun but morbid struwwelpeter is a 19thcentury german. Struwwelpeter heinrich hoffmann this web edition of hoffmanns classic childrens story incorporates the original illustrations.
Hoffman, a frankfurt physician and father, wrote the book after realizing that there were none he wanted to buy for his 3yearold son for christmas. Merry stories and funny pictures see other formats the project gutenberg ebook of struwwelpeter. Struwwelpeter is a bit different from the poetry book of my youth. I read and reread those poems many times and loved the drawings. The 19thcentury book of horrors that scared german kids into. Its also a strong reminder of how grateful i am to be working in childrens books at this current historical moment. Reading this also brought to mind a big book of illustrated children s verses that my grandmother had given me as a gift. The original childrens book, struwwelpeter including stories about a boy whose thumbs are cut off in order to teach him a lesson about sucking them and another in which a. And ere they dream what hes about he takes his great sharp scissors and cuts their thumbs clean off, and then you know, they never grow again. If you possess any sort of fluency in the german language, theres a good chance youve encountered childrens author heinrich hoffmans 1845 bedtime classic struwwelpeter. When you think of childrens books, you will most likely or so i hope not immediately think of the horror genre. The 19thcentury book of horrors that scared german kids into behaving. To prove that a true masterpiece can stand the test of time, i am going to take a closer look at what was possibly the most influential german childrens book of the 19 th century struwwelpeter, or shockheaded peter, by heinrich hoffmann, a book that remains popular today.
They are a source of plenty of nightmare fuel, too there are ten stories, each of them rhyming and illustrated. The story of little suckathumb 19thcentury german stories. Intending to buy a picture book as a christmas present for his 3yearold. Peter is a little boy publicly humiliated by his own slovenliness. Another child who wont stop sucking his thumb has them cut off. In the original, the story of little suckathumb, which is one of the most famous stories in the book, the. How one brutal childrens book from 1845 left permanent marks on pop culture.
A mother warns her son konrad not to suck his thumbs. Unhappy with the dry and pedagogic books available for children at the time, he wrote and illustrated struwwelpeter as a christmas present for his. Struwwelpeter in english translation ebook written by heinrich hoffmann. Original illustrations from the book that inspired edward scissorhands.
Childhood trauma, childrens literature, struwwelpeter. It comprises ten illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children. The best scenes from the most demented german childrens book ever published. The best scenes from the most demented german childrens. Struwwelpeter is one of the most successful german childrens books and has been. How to expand your german vocabulary effortlessly sloe. The former is innocent with a sense of good and evil for which he is rewarded in the end.
Struwwelpeter variously translated as slovenly or shockheaded peter. In the original edition of heinrich hoffmans 1845 german childrens book, the most famous characterstruwwelpeter. Merry tales and funny pictures, by heinrich hoffman this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Struwwelpeter the story of little suck a thumb youtube. One of the most popular and influential childrens book ever written, this timehonored tale sure to produce lots of giggles describes the gruesome consequences that befall children who torment animals, play with matches, suck their thumbs, refuse to eat, and fidget at meals. It is bizarre as it is hilarious, and the fact that it is a childrens book just. Struwwelpeter in english translation dover childrens classics. Struwwelpeter in english translation dover childrens classics hoffmann.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read struwwelpeter. How one brutal childrens book from 1845 left permanent. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read struwwelpeter in english translation. In 1844, the doctor heinrich hoffmann tried to find a picture book that he could give to his threeyearold son carl for christmas. Whats more, despite the inherent horror, its visuals have proved timeless. In the original story, the thumbs were cut off by a tailor rather than the boys mother. Struwwelpeter variously translated as slovenly or shockheaded peter has become widely recognized as one of the most popular and influential childrens books ever written. Sucka thumb, which is one of the most famous stories in the book. Heinrich hoffmann was a 19th century german psychiatrist who published poems and novels in his spare time. Thumbs are sheared off, eyes fall out of sockets, faces are pecked to death and bodies waste to nothing.
Struwwelpeter is one of the earliest books for children that combines. These cautionary tales are more grim than others, however they often end in death or dismemberment for the child. Although today most parents would find the book disturbing, most parents in 1845 loved the book and found it incredibly funny. Struwwelpeter in english translation dover childrens.
Since 1845, millions of parents bought struwwelpeter, a book that threatened their children with the consequences that befall the disordered and disorderly. German wikisource has a bibliography of editions, adaptations, and parodies. He originally was going to purchase a book for his 3yearold son, but decided to write his own childrens book. Struwwelpeter barbara smith chalou 2007 literary criticism. Web site for use of german children s literature for language learning. Text and dictionary dual language quiz short answer struwwelpeter. A reader of the book in 2020, however, might see things differently. One of the most famous stories is the story of little suckathumb, a boy. These stories were created and illustrated by the german physician and psychiatrist heinrich hoffmann.
A collectors item, written in rhyming couplets and illustrated by the author. I bought it and thought what a great book for little boys, having never heard of it myself before that. Struwwelpeter a german classic by heinrich hoffmann. The best scenes from the most demented german childrens book. Unlike any other bedtime story, in these ones, little children are severely punished for bizarre mistakes and misbehaving. Hoffmann wrote struwwelpeter in response to a lack of good childrens books. Web site for use of german childrens literature for language learning. Struwwelpeter or little suckathumb november 27, 20 do you have any idea what it was like growing up with the name conrad and having this bizarre and horrible 1840s german childrens book in the house.
Intending to buy a picture book as a christmas present for his 3yearold son, hoffmann instead wrote and illustrated. Struwwelpeter or little suckathumb conradbrunstrom. He wrote this book because he claims that there was a lack of good childrens book and published his work of art in 1845. It comprises ten colorfully illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children. The childrens book every kid dreaded in the 18th century. Struwwelpeter in english translation by heinrich hoffmann. Struwwelpeter is a series of cautionary tales set to rhyme, for which hoffmann provided his own illustrations. Each has a clear moral that demonstrates the disastrous consequences of misbehavior in an exaggerated way. I stumbled upon this german book of childrens verses. If youre not familiar with the 1845 german childrens classic book of cautionary tales, struwwelpeter, then please let me introduce you to a radical new form of parenting. The best scenes from the most demented german children s book ever published. This creepy af german childrens book is pure nightmare fuel. Fearful stories and vile pictures to instruct good little folks ebook written by heinrich hoffmann.
But the violence in struwwelpeter is not unusual for childrens books from the. In the following essay, wesseling studies the interplay of words and images in hoffmanns struwwelpeter, concluding that the book is an example of subversive childrens literature. This german childrens book is the creepiest thing youll see today. Neither did heinrich hoffmann, author of the famous german childrens book shaggy peter struwwelpeter.
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