Kindergedichte und Galgenlieder

by Christian Morgenstern, Lisbeth Zwerger, Ernst van Altena (Translator)

A delightful anthology of nonsense verse and lyrical verses offers a song about battling silverware, a poem about a proud dog and his new necktie, along with gentle songs about the seasons, and much more.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Christian Morgenstern (May 6, 1871–March 31, 1914) was a German author and poet.

Morgenstern's poetry, much of which was inspired by English literary nonsense, is immensely popular, even though he enjoyed very little success during his lifetime. He made fun of scholasticism, e.g. literary criticism in "Drei Hasen", grammar in "Der Werwolf", narrow-mindedness in "Der Gaul", and symbolism in "Der Wasseresel". In "Scholastikerprobleme" he discussed how many angels could sit on a needle. Still many Germans know some of his poems and quotations by heart, e.g. the following line from "The Impossible Fact" ("Die unmögliche Tatsache", 1910):

For, he reasons pointedly / That which must not, can not be. (German: "Weil, so schließt er messerscharf / Nicht sein kann, was nicht sein darf.")

Reviews

[Adriana Scarpin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian Morgenstern foi um pioneiro da literatura nonsense em língua alemã, por isso não o vi no curso sobre literatura nonsense que fiz na USP que privilegiava a literatura nonsense de origem inglesa.
Não sei até que ponto os poemas desse livro foram bem vertidos ao inglês porque meu alemão continua uma lástima, se na poesia normal já sentimos uma enorme diferença na tradução, ouso dizer que no nonsense é pior ainda.

[Judy Soukupová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Četla jsem jinou sbírku ale je to český vydání, takže není na goodreads, každopádně miluju Morgensterna<3

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations (and any by Lisbeth Zwerger). Not sure if children would like this. The poems are translated. Gallows Songs.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children’s book that can be enjoyed just as well by adults. The translations are melodic and fluid. The illustrations are beautiful, whimsical, and haunting at times, which make them perfect for Morgenstern’s verse. I only wish the book were a little longer, or that some of the poems early in the book had larger illustrations.

[Marineke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful nonsensical poems by Christan Morgenstern written in 1913, beautifully illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger.

[Pauline]

Great translation, better than Max Knight's in my opinion. I would love a second, more complete edition.

[Aurumora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leseeindruck (illustriert)
"Traumliedchen" mag ich sehr daraus. Aus der Liste für die Tierneuschöpfung empfehle ich dem Schöpfer den "Süßwassermops".