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aramsamsam's review against another edition
3.0
Den musste ich in der Schule lesen und später noch mal für die Uni. Ein ziemlich dicker Wälzer mit Satzlängen, bei denen selbst Thomas Mann in Tränen ausgebrochen wäre.
Der erste große deutsche Roman schildert das Leben von Simplicissimus Deutsch, das größtenteils während des 30-jährigen Krieges stattfindet.
Simplex wächst nach einem Überfall auf seinen Heimathof, den nur er überlebt, bei einem Eremiten auf. Nach dessen Tod zieht er in die Welt.
Sein Wesen scheint schlicht: Zu Beginn ist er dermaßen naiv, dass er nicht den Namen seiner Eltern nennen kann und auch nicht das Grauen verstehen kann, dass seiner Familie durch den Überfall geschieht.
Der Einsiedler kann ihm wenigstens den Glauben und Moral einimpfen, doch allzu bald ist der junge Simplex wieder auf sich gestellt.
Auf seinen Reisen erlebt er sozialen Aufstieg und Fall und lernt Menschen aus allen Bevölkerungsschichten kennen. Ihnen allen ist ihre Fehlbarkeit gemein. Insbesondere an die Habgier einiger Soldaten erinnere ich mich und an eine Fressorgie relativ am Anfang. In diesem Buch finden sich garantiert alle sieben Todsünden.
Leider ist es etwas schwer zu lesen (immerhin stammt es aus dem Barock), doch viele urkomische Stellen (teils gerade durch die antike Sprache, die oft unfreiwillig komisch ist) versüßen einem die Lektüre. Für diese Geschichte würde ich mir unbedingt eine moderne Fassung wünschen - es gibt zwar eine Übersetzung in modernes Deutsch, aber ich würde mir etwas weniger Akademisches wünschen wie einen Comic.
Zum Abschluss der Vollständigkeit halber der volle Titel:
Der Abentheuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch
Das ist:
Die Beschreibung deß Lebens eines seltsamen Vaganten / genant Melchior Sternfels von Fuchshaim / wo und auch welcher gestalt Er nemlich in diese Welt gekommen / was er darinn gesehen / gelernet / erfahren und außgestanden / auch warumb er diese wieder freywillig quittirt.
Überauß lustig / und maenniglich nutzlich zu lesen.
An Tag geben von German Schleifheim von Sulsfort.
Der erste große deutsche Roman schildert das Leben von Simplicissimus Deutsch, das größtenteils während des 30-jährigen Krieges stattfindet.
Simplex wächst nach einem Überfall auf seinen Heimathof, den nur er überlebt, bei einem Eremiten auf. Nach dessen Tod zieht er in die Welt.
Sein Wesen scheint schlicht: Zu Beginn ist er dermaßen naiv, dass er nicht den Namen seiner Eltern nennen kann und auch nicht das Grauen verstehen kann, dass seiner Familie durch den Überfall geschieht.
Der Einsiedler kann ihm wenigstens den Glauben und Moral einimpfen, doch allzu bald ist der junge Simplex wieder auf sich gestellt.
Auf seinen Reisen erlebt er sozialen Aufstieg und Fall und lernt Menschen aus allen Bevölkerungsschichten kennen. Ihnen allen ist ihre Fehlbarkeit gemein. Insbesondere an die Habgier einiger Soldaten erinnere ich mich und an eine Fressorgie relativ am Anfang. In diesem Buch finden sich garantiert alle sieben Todsünden.
Leider ist es etwas schwer zu lesen (immerhin stammt es aus dem Barock), doch viele urkomische Stellen (teils gerade durch die antike Sprache, die oft unfreiwillig komisch ist) versüßen einem die Lektüre. Für diese Geschichte würde ich mir unbedingt eine moderne Fassung wünschen - es gibt zwar eine Übersetzung in modernes Deutsch, aber ich würde mir etwas weniger Akademisches wünschen wie einen Comic.
Zum Abschluss der Vollständigkeit halber der volle Titel:
Der Abentheuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch
Das ist:
Die Beschreibung deß Lebens eines seltsamen Vaganten / genant Melchior Sternfels von Fuchshaim / wo und auch welcher gestalt Er nemlich in diese Welt gekommen / was er darinn gesehen / gelernet / erfahren und außgestanden / auch warumb er diese wieder freywillig quittirt.
Überauß lustig / und maenniglich nutzlich zu lesen.
An Tag geben von German Schleifheim von Sulsfort.
caughtbetweenpages's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure I've ever been so confused about what to rate a book.
The character development and voice were lacking, despite the novel chronicling Simplicus Simplicissimus' entire life (at least, character development with any sort of logic behind it. Simplicus changes, but we as readers don't see a gradual, understandable progression). The plot and tone zig zagged between humorous ballroom scenes to horrific torture and back in a way that should have been jarring but felt completely natural, and in fact, enjoyable. The precise setting was often told but didn't mean much to me personally -- there was little difference between Germany and Switzerland in their descriptions -- but the overall /feeling/ of "20 years war" Europe felt... right.
Good, but I didn't quite connect to it. Plus the ending felt out of place and the novel therefore felt incomplete. Thus, 3/5.
The character development and voice were lacking, despite the novel chronicling Simplicus Simplicissimus' entire life (at least, character development with any sort of logic behind it. Simplicus changes, but we as readers don't see a gradual, understandable progression). The plot and tone zig zagged between humorous ballroom scenes to horrific torture and back in a way that should have been jarring but felt completely natural, and in fact, enjoyable. The precise setting was often told but didn't mean much to me personally -- there was little difference between Germany and Switzerland in their descriptions -- but the overall /feeling/ of "20 years war" Europe felt... right.
Good, but I didn't quite connect to it. Plus the ending felt out of place and the novel therefore felt incomplete. Thus, 3/5.
mavenbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Where to begin?...
In this book, we follow Simplicissimus, a rather simple man, as he travels throughout various parts of Europe (and other parts of the world), though not always by his own choice. Ongoing wars in Germany affect him in both good and bad ways throughout the book, as he alternates between fighting and avoiding fighting in various battles (and armies!).
The book isn't entirely about war though, and you get a glimpse at what life in 1600s Europe was like for all sorts of people there. There's also a fair dose of religion in the book, as SImplicissimus struggles with others' sins as well as his own. Occasionally there are historical and biblical references, as well as a tiny sprinkling of fantasy mixed in.
Simplcissimus reminded me of another simple character from a later Czech novel: The Good Soldier Svejk (which I really should read the rest of!). The only difference is that Simplicissimus seems to overcome his simpleness, though not necessarily for good reasons or with good consequences.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would definitely recommend it. The only negatives for me -- besides the poorly edited edition I read -- were the heavy religious content, the frequent rambling lists of things, and the strange second half of the last book and ending (that excerpt is a bit of a downer!).
In this book, we follow Simplicissimus, a rather simple man, as he travels throughout various parts of Europe (and other parts of the world), though not always by his own choice. Ongoing wars in Germany affect him in both good and bad ways throughout the book, as he alternates between fighting and avoiding fighting in various battles (and armies!).
The book isn't entirely about war though, and you get a glimpse at what life in 1600s Europe was like for all sorts of people there. There's also a fair dose of religion in the book, as SImplicissimus struggles with others' sins as well as his own. Occasionally there are historical and biblical references, as well as a tiny sprinkling of fantasy mixed in.
Simplcissimus reminded me of another simple character from a later Czech novel: The Good Soldier Svejk (which I really should read the rest of!). The only difference is that Simplicissimus seems to overcome his simpleness, though not necessarily for good reasons or with good consequences.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would definitely recommend it. The only negatives for me -- besides the poorly edited edition I read -- were the heavy religious content, the frequent rambling lists of things, and the strange second half of the last book and ending (that excerpt is a bit of a downer!).
alhynes's review
4.0
If there were ever a book that Good Reads needed to update its rating system to include half-stars for, it’s this.
I have to keep remembering that this book is nearly 400 years old! In this light, it is absolutely exceptional. However, it’s not actually always super enjoyable to read and would benefit from skimming sections at times.
However, the story (if there is one!) and main character really appeal to me given the history of the 30 years war and the reminder that people today are no different than people back then.
A very funny and remarkably relevant German novel!
I have to keep remembering that this book is nearly 400 years old! In this light, it is absolutely exceptional. However, it’s not actually always super enjoyable to read and would benefit from skimming sections at times.
However, the story (if there is one!) and main character really appeal to me given the history of the 30 years war and the reminder that people today are no different than people back then.
A very funny and remarkably relevant German novel!