Anonymous, Lalebuch (Die Schildbürger)

Albrecht Classen (University of Arizona)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.1: German-language Writing and Culture: Germany, 500-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1597

Places

Germany (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Satire
Story Collection

Resources

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A vagrant appears one day in a village where cats are unknown and mice have become such a pest that no food is safe from them. The vagrant owns a cat which quickly demonstrates its hunting skills killing a bunch of mice when let loose. The peasants are greatly impressed and urge the traveler to sell that animal to them to combat the vermin. Seemingly grudgingly, he agrees, accepts half of the amount of money promised and rushes away, knowing only too well that he cheated the villagers. As soon as he has left, the people send one of them after him to learn what the cat would eat. The vagrant, fearing that his crooked business deal has been exposed, runs as fast as he can, but at least he answers the question by shouting that it eats whatever it is fed. The peasant, however, understands…

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1933 words

Citation: Classen, Albrecht. "Lalebuch (Die Schildbürger)". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 December 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=41486, accessed 27 April 2024.]

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