The Parnassus (221, 4th Ave. NY) edition is undated but I first unshelved it in 1957 and, as an old man but young bibliophile, can estimate its age as at least 100 years. The first English translation of Munchausen, translated from Rudolf Raspe's original German, was published in 1785. The American edition relies heavily on it.
The real Baron Munchausen, Hieronymous Friedrich, Freiherr von Munchhausen, from Bodenwerder, Electorate of Brunswick-Luneburg, was a soldier for the Russian Empire during the Russo-Turkish war in the late 1730's. He was known for recounting adventures (and embellishing them) but balked at anyone exaggerating his exploits in print because he believed they could not be further exaggerated. Hence the following disclaimer:
I don't want to give the false impression that these teachable yarns composed my whole education. I also went to school and passed hard courses in civics, history, math, language and science --with the exception of Zoology --too many o's, and I never understood The Periodic Table of The Elephants.
The education we get in school is vital, but the additional education we get from books alone is priceless. Even if those books are fantasies... because within those pages, we find kindling to fuel our imagination and curiosity and keep them burning. (Both of which I believe you possess in abundance.)
ReplyDeleteDear Susan, thank you. You're quite right. But I must address the importance of parental supervision. The delightful etchings in Munchausen were a late find in my childhood. Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré produced statues, prints, 1000 paintings and 100,000 sketches on a tight schedule; he only lived 51 years. First book I opened, his work in Dante's Inferno (when I was only 5 years old) caused me to faint. Any artist who could overwhelm an active kindergartener a century later has got my admiration. Doré was simply the best.
DeleteWell if Gulliver, Sinbad and Aladdin all endorse him, I can hardly argue with his tellings and tales.
ReplyDeleteThose three unimpeachable figments have been most convincing, dear Bruce. However, historical rumor has it that the Baron's threat of law-suit caused Herr Raspe to permit publication only anonymously AND posthumously. I wonder how much we owe our literary enjoyment to those avoiding what is legally actionable.
DeleteI have learned much from the journey of others--journey is my favorite genre.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Dear Jeff, As I gain experience in the journey, the destination is not simply a goal but part of the journey that undergoes constant adjustments and even redefinition. The journey seems to be the fantasist's and my curriculum in existence.
DeleteThis does help explain Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. I had not delved into the Munchausen part of it before.
ReplyDeleteI love your line "... we students of fantasy never exaggerate, never deviate from the facts as we imagine them ..." - it's good to have standards!
0_Jenny, thanks for your compliment. Thanks also for info on Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy, which I'd never heard of. I knew about individuals who, from underlying causes, exploited hypochondria for personal aggrandizement, but had not imagined parents inflicting imaginary diseases upon children. It is something, I see, school teachers must watch out for.
DeleteIt's a very, all too true, syndrome.
DeleteWhat a fantastic book!
ReplyDeleteKeep it safe!
https://ocaminhodoaprendiz2.blogspot.com/
"Fantastic" is the perfect word to describe that book. Thank you Ana. I shall keep it safe.
DeleteThe Baron would fit in perfectly today in the present administration.
ReplyDeleteImagination is a wonderful gift and one that adds so much joy to life.
Dear Arleen, indeed we could use more statespersons who use imagination as John Lennon wrote, "Imagine all the people living life in peace...", instead of narcissistic demagogues appealing to prejudice and toadyism. If only every imagination could follow Munchausen's hat!
DeleteI hope you don't take it wrong, Geo., but I notice you only got a few comments on this post. Reading it was fun. Is Blogger is declining? -Sven
ReplyDeleteAh Sven, Thanks for emailng so I could lower the drawbridge. You've struck a nerve. You have to understand, Munchausen is a town and important trainstop in Strasbourg. It's 2000 years old. During those millennia, the city changed nationality many times --Rome, Huns etc.-- and in the past 2 centuries Germany and France played ping-pong with it. Most people don't care what happened back then but Hieronymous Friedrich did. Is it important? I have learned our American President insists upon purchasing YOUR OWN country, Sven. Blogger is not declining, but the long-term memory of people has limited itself to about 100 letters and dismissing the past as "Oh, that's SO 2 weeks ago."
DeleteApologies for my online absence of late - I have been having my own adventures whilst searching for land. Have managed to keep my hat from absconding into space - thus far at least.
ReplyDeleteGood fantasy should illuminate the truths of life, bad fantasy should be rooted out of office, IMHO.
Meanwhile, back to my maps xx
In fervent hope your maps yield land that will teach itself to you, dear Lisa, all my best wishes go with you. We need to keep the garden spinning in time and space. We need you.
DeleteThat video was really fun. I'm glad that YouTube makes so many great things available to us. I have a book of my father's that is almost 100 years old ~ "A Child's Garden of Verses" published in 1929. My father would have been three at the time, and I imagine my grandmother reading it to him. My mother read it to my brother and me when we were toddlers, and we both scrawled our names inside it. I'm preparing myself to part with it, because my brother's granddaughter is nearing three and is at the perfect age for nursery rhymes. I hope that you are doing well, my friend!
ReplyDeleteStevenson's wonderful little book is an old friend of this family too. Your grandniece is a lucky kid.
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