Die Schöne von Hinten: Lieder und Fabeln von Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
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Authors
Chodowiecki, Daniel
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim
Sommer, Ingrid
Issue Date
1973
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Type
Book, Whole
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Abstract
This lovely little volume of 104 pages, about 4 x 5¾, comes in a marbled box and with marbled covers. The title-fable is only sixteen lines long but very telling. An enchanting woman seen from behind promises to be something very special. The speaker and his friend catch up to her; she turns around. What was it that enchanted me? An old woman in a young dress. Does this fable play on names in which the von gives a hint of nobility? If so, she is the beauty from Behind. The first item here, Der Kuss, is well done. Other kisses hardly deserve the name, when compared with the kiss which my Lesbia gives me. I read Das Geheimnis on this occasion. A priest drags a secret out of a young man, only to find out that the secret was about a very small thing. Lessing's good rationalist question is Was it worth all that trouble? I like very much Lessing's redoing of FK (96). The frogs ask the water-snake If you want to be our king, why do you eat us? Because you asked for me. I did not ask for you, answers one frog. Then I have to eat you for not asking for me! The colophon points out that the Chodowiecki illustrations are presented here in their original size. There seem to be more songs early and more fables late in the booklet. There is a T of C at the end.
Description
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Publisher
Buchverlag Der Morgen
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DOI
Identifier
5896 (Access ID)