Title: Peter Schlemihl's wundersame Geschichte

Title: Peter Schlemihl's wundersame Geschichte Title Record # 1566992
Author: Adelbert von Chamisso
Date: 1814-00-00
Type: SHORTFICTION
Length: novella
Series: Peter Schlemihl
Language: German

Note: The first publication was edited by Baron Friedrich de La Motte Fouqué; the idea for this novella grew on Chamisso on a walk during a conversation with him. The novella was written on a demesne not far from Berlin from August to the end of September in 1913; it was also published in the several editions of Chamisso's collected works.

Synopsis: Peter Schlemihl sells his shadow for a bagful of gold which's supply is never to end. Soon, he has to discover that he is shunned by other people. Now he desperately tries to win his shadow back from the devil.

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Other Titles

Variant Titles

Translations

Year	Title
1814	Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte

Year	Language	Title
1822^ⓘ Translated by Hippolyte de Chamisso, the author's older brother; the translation was 'adapted' without Chamisso's consent by the editor / publisher Charles Ladvocat. In a preface dated November 1837, the author says that he has reviewed and corrected the Ladvocat text, for the 1838 edition (see at ISFDB).	French	Pierre Schlémihl [as by uncredited]
1823^ⓘPer Clute/Grant this was mistakenly attributed to Fouqué in this translation (likely because he was the editor & supplier of a fictitious foreword for the original edition). Translated by Sir John Bowring Translator from Bleiler's The Guide to Supernatural Fiction.	English	Peter Schlemihl [as by Lamotte Fouqué]
1823^ⓘTranslated by Sir John Bowring, LL.D.	English	Peter Schlemihl
1831^ⓘTranslated by D. Bomhoff	Dutch	De wonderbare geschiedenis van Peter Schlemihl
1837^ⓘ Translated by N. Martin	French	Histoire merveilleuse de Pierre Schlémihl [as by Adelbert de Chamisso]
1838^ⓘTranslated by an unknown hand	Italian	L'uomo senz' ombra [as by uncredited]
1838^ⓘTranslated by Hippolyte de Chamisso; this initial, altered translation was revised by the author	French	Merveilleuse histoire de Pierre Schlémihl [as by Adelbert de Chamisso]
1843^ⓘ Translated by William Howitt This is the third-published English translation, according to its "Preface by the Translator" (see). The novella begins (quote p. 13, viewed at HathiTrust): The Wonderful History of Peter Schlemihl. Chapter I. After a fortunate, but for me very troublesome voyage, we finally reached the port. The instant that I touched land in the boat, I loaded myself with my few effects, and passing through the swarming people, I entered the first, and least house, before which I saw a sign hang. I requested a room; the boots measured me with a look, and conducted me to the garret.	English	The Wonderful History of Peter Schlemihl
1845^ⓘ Translated by an unknown hand The source for this translation is "the Berlin edition, 1839" (1845, p. 69). It has been published in several other editions under different names of the work or the writer. It may have been published before 1845, perhaps by Burns. The novella begins (p. 7, viewed at HathiTrust): The Shadowless Man. Chapter I. After a prosperous, but to me very wearisome, voyage, we came at last into port. Immediately on landing, I got together my few effects; and, squeezing myself through the crowd, went into the nearest and humblest inn which first met my gaze. On asking for a room, the waiter looked at me from head to foot, and conducted me to one.	English	The Shadowless Man; or, the Wonderful History of Peter Schlemihl [as by Chamisso]
1899^ⓘ Translated by an unknown hand The translation text is that published in 1845 by James Burns, as The Shadowless Man; or, The Wonderful History of Peter Schlemihl by Chamisso (see). The novella begins (p. 7, viewed at HathiTrust): Peter Schlemihl, the Shadowless Man Chapter I After a prosperous, but to me very wearisome, voyage, we came at last into port. Immediately on landing I got together my few effects; and, squeezing myself through the crowd, went into the nearest and humblest inn which first met my gaze. On asking for a room the waiter looked at me from head to foot and conducted me to one.	English	Peter Schlemihl, the Shadowless Man [as by Adelbert Chamisso]
1899^ⓘ Translated by Frederic Henry Hedge, D.D. (LCCN n84225038, Wikipedia) Chapters I-XI (same as the original)	English	The Wonderful History of Peter Schlemihl: The Man Who Lost His Shadow
1910^ⓘ Abridged, from ~20,000 to ~3800 words, probably by J. A. Hammerton and/or Arthur Mee.	English	Peter Schlemihl, the Shadowless Man (extract) [as by Adalbert von Chamisso]
1913^ⓘ Translated by an unknown hand The translation text is that published in 1845 by James Burns, as The Shadowless Man; or, The Wonderful history of Peter Schlemihl by Chamisso (see). The novella begins (quote): Chapter I After a prosperous, but to me very wearisome, voyage, we came at last into port. Immediately on landing, I got together my few effects; and, squeezing myself through the crowd, went into the nearest and humblest inn which first met my gaze. On asking for a room, the waiter looked at me from head to foot, and conducted me to one.	English	The Marvellous History of the Shadowless Man [as by A. von Chamisso]
1923^ⓘ Translated by Theodore Bolton Bolton also illustrated the 1923 edition, wrote its introductory life of Chamisso, and several years later inscribed the copy viewed at HathiTrust Digital Library. Chapters I-XI (same as the original)	English	The Wonderful History of Peter Schlemihl
1957^ⓘTranslated by Leopold Von Loewenstein-Wertheim, first published in 1957	English	Peter Schlemihl
1957	English	The Man Who Lost His Shadow [as by Adelbert von Chamisso and Gertrude C. Schwebell]
1969^ⓘTranslated by Harry Steinhauer	English	The Strange Story of Peter Schlemihl
1973^ⓘTranslated by an anonymous hand Anonymous, undated, romantic French translation, revised by the author, according to Anne Richter in her anthology L'Allemagne fantastique de Goethe à Meyrink, 1973.	French	L'extraordinaire histoire de Pierre Schlemihl [as by Adalbert von Chamisso]
1977^ⓘTranslated by an anonymous hand of the romantic period.	French	La merveilleuse histoire de Peter Schlemihl: ou: L'homme qui a perdu son ombre [as by Adalbert von Chamisso]
1978^ⓘTranslated by H. C. Lipps	Spanish	La extraordinaria historia de Peter Schlemihl [as by Adalbert von Chamisso]
2007^ⓘTranslated by an unknown hand	French	L'étonnante histoire de Peter Schlemihl [as by Adalbert von Chamisso]
2012^ⓘTranslated by Peter Wortsman	English	Peter Schlemiel
unpublished^ⓘTranslated by Louis de la Foye, Chamisso's friend. The translation found no publisher.	French	Pierre Schlémihl [as by Adelbert de Chamisso]

Publications

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Title	Date	Author/Editor	Publisher/Pub. Series	Price	Pages	Format	Type
Peter Schlemihl's wundersame Geschichte	1814-00-00	Adelbert von Chamisso	Schrag		xii+ 132	hc^?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.	chap
Peter Schlemihl's wundersame Geschichte: Zweite mit den Liedern und Balladen des Verfassers vermehrte Ausgabe	1827-00-00	Adelbert von Chamisso	Schrag		xvi+ 214	hc^?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.	coll
Peter Schlemihl's wundersame Geschichte	1835-00-00	Adelbert von Chamisso	Schrag	Taler 1.25		hc^?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.	chap
Peter Schlemihl's wundersame Geschichte	1839-00-00	Adelbert von Chamisso	Schrag	Taler 1/2^?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling. Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g. 3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters of a shilling).	xvi+ 82	hc^?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.	chap

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Reviews

Review [English] by Everett F. Bleiler (1983) in The Guide to Supernatural Fiction