by Philipp Strazny (Author)
In the Rascal Stories, Ludwig Thoma recounts his school time and his numerous run-ins with authority figures. Many German children and adults alike have enjoyed the unflattering descriptions of rich and important neighbors, arrogant teachers, self-righteous clerics, and annoying relatives. The situational comedy will have you chuckle and some off-hand remarks will leave it up to you to imagine outrageous scenes. You can read this book to catch a glimpse of 1900 Bavarian society, or to simply enjoy the ride.In this translator's edition, the original German is presented side by side with the English translation. Students of German will find it a useful tool for language learning and students of German literature and society will find explanations to text passages that otherwise might remain relatively inaccessible.
Author Biography
Ludwig Thoma was born on January 21st, 1867, in Oberammergau, Germany, as the son of a forester. His father died when Ludwig was seven, so his mother had to raise their seven children on her own. After completing school in 1896, Thoma begins studies in forestry and soon switches to law. He worked as a lawyer until 1899, when he gave up his practice to join the satire weekly Simplicissimus. Within a year, he advances to the magazine's chief editor and contributed many pieces sharply critical of state representatives and politics. In 1915, he volunteered as a medic in the war, but had to return home seriously ill. He died in 1921 from stomach cancer. Besides hundreds of magazine contributions, his legacy includes many novels, stories, plays, and poems.