Afterward

Busch, Wilhelm, 1832-1908Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 9.5K words
Chapters: 1

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Hernach by Wilhelm BuschAuthor: Busch, Wilhelm, 1832-1908,Language: German, Class: PT: Language and Literatures: Germanic, Scandinavian, and Icelandic literatures, Release Date: Jun 22, 2017

Editor's review

Hernach is a German illustrated text by the painter and poet Wilhelm Busch, belonging to the vein of short rhymed stories with line drawings that marked his later work. Busch's writing is concise and light in rhythm, with pictures and verses undercutting each other and often turning at the end toward the absurd and the darkly comic; this picture-with-verse form influenced later comics and children's picture books. This is a public-domain German-language e-book, short in length, suitable as an introductory sample of nineteenth-century German humorous literature and for German learners to experience rhyme and colloquial rhythm. Note that Busch's humor is often satirical and didactic, and some content reflects the views of his era, which today's readers may not fully share. It is best read as a collection of short pieces to dip into at random, without seeking narrative continuity, and with attention to the tension between text and image.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginner to intermediate German learners who want to encounter rhymed short pieces
Readers interested in nineteenth-century German humorous literature and picture-poems
Enthusiasts studying the history of comics and the origins of image-text narrative
Readers who enjoy short satirical stories and casual dipping-in

Not a good fit for

Readers with no German who do not wish to use reference tools
Readers expecting a full-length plot or novel
Readers uninterested in satirical, didactic humor

Reading tips

First read several pieces to feel the rhyme and rhythm, then choose favorites and work through them line by line with a dictionary.
Read aloud to experience the rhythm and colloquial feel of German; it is easier to enter than silent reading.
Look at Busch's line drawings alongside the text for the contrast between word and image, and note the turn at the end.
No need to read in order; treat it as a collection to dip into at random.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is there a Chinese translation of this book?

The material provided only states that it is a public-domain German e-book and does not mention any Chinese translation. Readers may begin with the German original or look for a reliable translation on their own; for language study, reading the original with a dictionary is more suitable.

Is Busch's work suitable for children?

Busch's illustrated stories are often placed in the children's literature tradition, but many pieces carry satire, a punitive tone, or even dark humor and reflect nineteenth-century attitudes. Whether they suit children depends on the specific piece and parental guidance; no blanket answer applies.

What level of German is needed to read it?

The texts are mainly rhymed short pieces with short sentences and a strongly colloquial flavor; readers with basic German grammar and common vocabulary can get started with a dictionary. The difficulties lie in the rhymes and older expressions; reading aloud and consulting notes or a translation is recommended.

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About the author

Busch, Wilhelm, 1832-1908 Author

Wilhelm Busch (1832–1908) was a German poet, illustrator, and writer of satirical stories, known for humorous narratives that combine pictures and verse. His best-known work, Max und Moritz, tells in rhyming lines and sequential illustrations the seven pranks of two boys; brisk in rhythm and sharp in tone, it is regarded as an important precursor of the early comic strip and has had a lasting influence on later comics and children's literature. He also created Hans Huckebein, Kritik des Herzens, Hernach, and other works, whose subjects are mostly human folly and weakness, in a style poised between humor and satire. Ten of his works are held here, including German originals and English and Dutch translations. As public information is limited, biographical details are omitted, with emphasis on the narrative character and influence of his works.