The Pied Piper: A Handbook

by Wolfgang Mieder

Few figures are as famous, mysterious, and influential as the Pied Piper, the notorious catcher of rats and children. With his magical music he was able to bewitch anyone and anything to follow him blindly, and he continues to influence the contemporary imagination. This book overviews the history of the Pied Piper legend and its lasting significance. Included are excerpts from numerous texts, along with examples of the Pied Piper in art, children's books, political cartoons, and popular culture. The volume also reviews scholarship on the Pied Piper and lists print and electronic resources. The most thorough work of its kind, this book is essential for high school students and general readers.

Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats, says Robert Browning in his beloved poem, The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Few figures are as famous, enigmatic, and influential as the Pied Piper, the notorious catcher of rats and children, whose magical music could enchant anyone and anything to follow him to destruction. Written for high school students and general readers, this book surveys the origin and history of the Pied Piper legend and discusses its significance in literature, art, film, popular culture, and political criticism.

The volume begins by examining the origins of the Pied Piper legend in 13th-century Germany and the transmission of the folktale across the centuries. It then provides numerous examples of the Pied Piper legend, along with a generous selection of texts. The book surveys scholarship on the Pied Piper and discusses the presence of the the figure in contemporary culture around the world, often as a metaphor for political leaders who blindly lead their followers in times of war. An extensive bibliography concludes the volume. A large selection of illustrations demonstrates the pervasive influence of the Pied Piper across cultures. Students will value this book for its illumination of different cultural traditions and its relation of modern film, art, and everyday life to the Pied Piper.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2006

Reviews

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written in a dry, academic style but if you're interested in specific fairy tales and folklore, like I am, these Greenwood Folklore Handbooks are the way to go. When it comes to information about the Pied Piper legend (short of traveling through time to find out what actually took the youth away from Hamelin), this book is about as thorough as it gets!

[Copland Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

To my knowledge there are only two English books on this topic. The other is entitled, In Search of the Pied Piper, by Radu Florescu. Dr. Mieder's book is a tremendous reference for this topic. It is well written and gives a comprehensive analysis of this wonderful folktale. Everything you would want to know about the Pied Piper of Hamelin is included in this book. There is bad news. The book costs between $40.00 - $55.00! This is unfortunate and insures its limited circulation. It would be nice if it was introduced in paperback. I'm sure its' steep price has to do with it being a part of the Greenwood Folklore Handbook series. I purchased this book, but only because of research I am doing concerning the Pied Piper for a musical. I first read it through the inter-library loan system.

[Meltha · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I salute Mieder's scholarship. This book is, in a word, exhaustive. If you have ever at any time had any question about "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," it will be addressed, if not answered, in this book. Definitely a must for anyone working on any kind of project involving this folktale. Not entirely sure I agree with him about the Orpheus imagery being irrelevant, but what's a scholarly project that doesn't have a bit of debate to it.