Fabeln und poetische Erzählungen von Gottl(ieb) Conr(ad) Pfeffel in Auswahl
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1861
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Book, Whole
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There are 442 pages of fables in the first volume alone of the two volumes that are put together here. That is a lot of fables! The texts are preceded by an introduction that includes a life and an assessment of Pfeffel's work. The second volume includes some 308 pages, including the final prose work, Biography of a Poodle. I wrote the following as I catalogued the 1981 book, Ich aber weiss, was Freiheit ist: Fabeln, Poesie und Prosa des Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel. Pfeffel is a fascinating figure. He became blind at an early age. His study of diplomacy, the career of his father, had been interrupted. He lived in French Alsace but was most at home in German-speaking culture. His brother had become a French diplomat. He was on his way to becoming a German poet. Surprisingly, he founded a military school, especially for Protestants. He experienced the French revolution and apparently lost a great deal in it. I can find one of my favorite Pfeffel fables here: Die Zwei Huende (13); Others escape my notice, but I will mention them here. One day an ass was hauling foul dung through the streets. Everyone got as far away as they could from the smell. How they honor me! A few days later he was hauling lovely flowers; everyone came as close as they could to enjoy the aroma. How they love me! In both cases he was wrong! A Poet once took a house of a rich countryman, in order to spend some time quietly in study. The landlord one day walked in to him and said, Sir, always so solitary? I have only been so, friend, said the poet, during the time you have been standing before me. Then there is Der tolle Hund. People in Rome run frantically from a mad dog; only a veteran waits and with one blow from his stick breaks the dog's neck. He will not stop biting until you have smashed him. A ladybug, tied to a string, is urged to fly. No. To experience in full flight that one is tied to a despot is the hardest slavery. The lion says to the hedgehog I can eat you with one bite. Yes, but you cannot digest me. After Robespierre's edict that there is a God, Pfeffel wrote: Now, God, you may again exist. Be sure to thank the Shah of the Franks! A noble wants to seem a friend of the people and claims he will burn his Adelsbrief. You cannot do that. It is still too fresh and green. Small format.
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Cotta
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10097 (Access ID)