Tuesday, September 05, 2006
A. von Chamisso's "Peter Schlemihl's Wondrous Story"
This story tells of a man who sells his shadow to the devil; it is a variation on the legend of Faust. I found it rather silly, actually. (Note of April 03, 2011: I reread it. The so-called "silliness" is in fact very refined humor. This novella is extraordinary. No two ways about it. My first readings are sometimes blind.) It was first published in 1814.
I read also "Adelbert's Fable" by the same author. It is a fantastic symbolic tale, the details of which I have almost completely forgotten. The first publication was in 1806.
Finally, I read an excerpt of Chamisso's travel journals; this excerpt describes his trip from Tenerife to Brazil, which took place, I think, in 1815.
All three texts are in one volume published in Brazil in the 1960's under the title "O Homem que Vendeu a Sombra". The translation has some errors, as I could see by comparing it to the English translation available on the Internet.
I read also "Adelbert's Fable" by the same author. It is a fantastic symbolic tale, the details of which I have almost completely forgotten. The first publication was in 1806.
Finally, I read an excerpt of Chamisso's travel journals; this excerpt describes his trip from Tenerife to Brazil, which took place, I think, in 1815.
All three texts are in one volume published in Brazil in the 1960's under the title "O Homem que Vendeu a Sombra". The translation has some errors, as I could see by comparing it to the English translation available on the Internet.
