Johann Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen (1621–1676)
Author of Simplicissimus
About the Author
A popular didactic novel of the Reformation period, Grimmelshausen's Simplicissimus (Adventures of a Simpleton) (1669) is largely responsible for establishing the novel as an important genre in German literature. It is an early example of the picaresque genre. The hero of the novel, who shares some show more of his creator's adventures, is no conventional "fool" reflecting on the follies of mankind, but a real soldier of fortune in the Thirty Years War. The misery he experiences forces him to search for an answer to the riddle of human existence. One of the sequels to Simplicissimus is Landstortzerin Courasche (1669), a bawdy, picaresque tale of a woman camp follower in an ugly world, "a symbol of the age and a lively individual [who] comes out on top in any situation with unimpaired self-assurance if not virtue" (LJ). The False Messiah (1672), in which a thief poses as the Prophet Elijah, "paints an equally grotesque picture of the world" (SR). Drawing a parallel between the devastation experienced in Germany during the Thirty Years War and during World War II, Gunter Grass found the work of Grimmelshausen a great source of inspiration. The combination of earnest moralism and cynicism renders the work of Grimmelshausen relatively modern, and it is open to a very wide range of interpretations. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Painting by Marcus Bloß (1641)
Series
Works by Johann Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen
Hamburger Lesehefte : Hans Jacob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen : Der abenteuerliche Simplicissimus (2007) 17 copies
Lebensbeschreibung der Erzbetrügerin und Landzerstörzerin Courage /Der seltsame Springinsfeld: Zwei… (2010) 6 copies
Lesen und Üben : Johann Jacob Christoph von Grimmelshausen : Simplicius Simplicissimus [book + sound recording] (2008) — Writer — 5 copies
Gesammelte Werke in Einzelausgaben 14 Rathstübel Plutonis / hrsg. von Wolfgang Bender. - Abdr. d. Erstausg. von 1672.… (1997) 3 copies
SEIKKAILUKAS SIMPLICISSIMUS 1 3 copies
SEIKKAILUKAS SIMPLICISSIMUS 2 3 copies
Den eventyrlige Simplicissimus 3 copies
Gesammelte Werke in Einzelausgaben 11 Die verkehrte Welt / hrsg. von Franz Günter Sieveke. - Abdr. d. Erstausg. von… (1973) 3 copies
Des Durchleuchtigen Printzen Proximi und Seiner ohnvergleichlichen Lympidae Liebs-Geschicht-Erzehlung (1997) 2 copies
O aventuroso Simplicissimus 1 copy
Seikkailukas Simplicissimus 1 copy
Simplicius Simplicissimus 1 1 copy
Werke in zwei Bänden 1 copy
Gesammelte Werke in Einzelausgaben 12 Kleinere Schriften / hrsg. von Rolf Tarot. - Abdr. d. Erstausgaben mit d.… (1997) 1 copy
Hans Jakob Christoph von Grimmelshausens "Der abentheuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch". Ein Bestseller? (German Edition) (2014) 1 copy
Werke 1 copy
Saksa Simplicissimuse seiklused, teisisõnu: ühe veidra vagabundi elulugu, kel Melchior Sternfels von… (2010) 1 copy
Associated Works
Oogst der tijden : keur uit de werken van schrijvers en dichters aller volken en eeuwen (1940) — Contributor — 10 copies
Auswahl aus der deutschen Literatur : mit einem Abrisz der Literaturgeschichte (1913) — Contributor — 2 copies
Lebensgut — Ein deutsches Lesebuch für Mädchen — 5. Teil (9. Schuljahr) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Grimmelshausen, Johann Jakob Christoffel von
- Legal name
- Grimmelshausen, Hans Jacob Christoph von
- Other names
- German Schleifheim von Sulsfort
Samuel Greiffensohn von Hirschfeld
Melchior Sternfels von Fugshaim
Philarchus Grossus von Trommenheim
Signeur Messmahl
Simon Lengfrisch von Hartenfels (show all 7)
Erich Stainfels von Grufensholm - Birthdate
- 1621 c.
- Date of death
- 1676-08-17
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Germany
- Birthplace
- Gelnhausen, Germany
- Place of death
- Renchen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Places of residence
- Gelnhausen, Germany (birth)
Renchen, Baden, Germany (death) - Occupations
- magistrate
soldier (Hessian army)
novelist
Members
Reviews
Lists
My TBR (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 77
- Also by
- 7
- Members
- 1,683
- Popularity
- #15,272
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 23
- ISBNs
- 168
- Languages
- 14
- Favorited
- 3
So the writings good and very easy to read at least in the translation i had. I think the translator is a 'William Heinemann' but that could be the publisher, i got it from Project Gutenberg.
Its mostly a biography and history with satire and comedy elements, there tends to be some quite witty lines every so often.
One of the best things is the sprinkling of whackiness, once in a while a wizard, fortune teller, ghost, witch or other bizarre character will show up in this otherwise normal story, which for me was always a pleasent experience.
Sidenote, the version i had skipped a couple of pieces, one involving our hero seducing some women and the other a trip to an underwater kingdom! Really! of all the stuff that could have been left out of this he skips the fish people.. that was annoying.
Oh yes before i forget this is set during the Thirty Years War which i know nothing about. However based on this book it seems to have involved at least two factions of germans as well as the Swedes, and a little bit of involvement from some croatians and maybe some Swiss, possibly some French aswell.
One of the odd things is that no one here seems to be fighting for a cause they switch sides at the drop of the hat. Theres no patriotism, its a very in the trenches viewpoint which is pretty intresting.
Lastly the protagonists personality and especially his religious tendencies vacillate wildly and ridiculously throughout.
Anyway on to the individual parts/books:
Book 1: Out hero starts off as a lovable idiot like Forest Gump or the [b:The Good Soldier Švejk|7629|The Good Soldier Švejk|Jaroslav Hašek|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468884268s/7629.jpg|318160], which allows him (and the reader) to get through some truly horrific war scenes. The term 'rape and pillage' doesn't even come close.
By far the most brutal and interesting parts of the story.
Book 2: Our hero changes from lovable idiot to an innocent and religious savant , like an Omish Sheldon Cooper.
Book 3: Another change this time into a military genius, like some combination of Sharp, Robin Hood and Omar Little from 'the Wire'. I did not see that coming.
Also all of the horrors of war are now completely forgotten about since our hero is now a soldier. It becomes the most Disneyfied version of a military conflict.
Book 4: Retiring mostly from the army our hero takes on about every job known at this time of history. Its a bit of a mess but there is some good satire here and there.
Book 5: The story continues to drift about and seems to get faster and faster. Seriously, at one point we end up back in the army promoted, fight in a battle, wounded, retired again and moved to Switzerland; in the space of about 2 pages.
I guess the author must have been getting as impatient to end this thing as i was.
Appendices: But later a few additional stories were found, the main one being a desert island adventure. I kind of skimmed these but the island story does have some more of those wacky moments which i like.
Overall, a lot of little bits of stories strung together, the early books probably superior to the latter ones but the author has a lot of neat bits scattered throughout.… (more)