The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Alan Rodgers Books) - Softcover

Raspe, Rudolf Erich

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1587155699 ISBN 13: 9781587155697

Publisher: Wildside Press, 2003

Synopsis

Baron Munchausen is a fictional German nobleman. The character is loosely based on a real baron, Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Freiherr von Münchhausen (1720-1797) Born in Bodenwerder, Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg, the real-life Münchhausen fought for the Russian Empire in the Russo-Turkish War of 1735-1739. Upon retiring in 1760, he became a minor celebrity within German aristocratic circles for telling outrageous tall tales based on his military career. After hearing some of Münchhausen's stories, Raspe adapted them anonymously into literary form, first in German as ephemeral magazine pieces and then in English as the 1785 book, which was first published in Oxford by a bookseller named Smith. The book was soon translated into other European languages, including a German version expanded by the poet Gottfried August Bürger. The real-life Münchhausen was deeply upset at the development of a fictional character bearing his name and threatened legal proceedings against the book's publisher. Perhaps fearing a libel suit, Raspe never acknowledged his authorship of the work, which was only established posthumously.

About this title

About the Author

Rudolf Erich Raspe (March 1736 - November 1794) was a German librarian, writer and scientist, called by his biographer John Carswell a "rogue". He is best known for his collection of tall tales, The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen, originally a satirical work with political aims.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wildside Press
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1587155699
• ISBN 13: 9781587155697
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 220