Germelshausen is an 1860 story by Friedrich Gerstäcker concerning a cursed village that sank into the earth long ago and is permitted to appear for only one day every century. The protagonist is a young artist (Arnold) who happens to be traversing the area as the town appears. He encounters, and becomes smitten with, a young woman (Gertrud) from Germelshausen. The romantic tale ends with him leaving the vicinity just in time to avoid becoming entombed with the village and its denizens, but thereby being forever separated from his love.
The basic concept is an old German motif that appears in works of Mueller, Heine, Uhland and others. The curse may affect a town, a castle or even a single house, but the narrative content remains largely unchanged.[1]
Germelshausen is widely credited as having inspired the musical Brigadoon.[2][3] However, Lerner denied that he had based the book on an older story, and, in an explanation published in The New York Times, stated that he did not learn of the existence of the Germelshausen story until after he had completed the first draft of Brigadoon.[4][5] Lerner said that in his subsequent research, he found many other legends of disappearing towns in various countries' folklore, and he pronounced their similarities "unconscious coincidence".[4]
ReferencesEdit
^Gerstäcker, Friedrich (1896). "Introduction". Germelshausen. Boston: Heath. pp. vii.
^Lees, Gene (2005). "Brigadoon". The musical worlds of Lerner and Loewe. U. of Nebraska Press. p. 49. ISBN0-8032-8040-8.
^ abLerner, Alan (1978). The Street Where I Live. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. p. 26.
^Lerner, Alan Jay (March 30, 1947). "Drama Mailbag". The New York Times. p. X3.
External linksEdit
Gerstäcker, Friedrich (1893). "Introduction". Germelshausen. Introduction and English notes by Carl Osthaus, M.A. Boston: Carl Schoenhof. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
This article about a short story (or stories) is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
germelshausen, 1860, story, friedrich, gerstäcker, concerning, cursed, village, that, sank, into, earth, long, permitted, appear, only, every, century, protagonist, young, artist, arnold, happens, traversing, area, town, appears, encounters, becomes, smitten, . Germelshausen is an 1860 story by Friedrich Gerstacker concerning a cursed village that sank into the earth long ago and is permitted to appear for only one day every century The protagonist is a young artist Arnold who happens to be traversing the area as the town appears He encounters and becomes smitten with a young woman Gertrud from Germelshausen The romantic tale ends with him leaving the vicinity just in time to avoid becoming entombed with the village and its denizens but thereby being forever separated from his love The basic concept is an old German motif that appears in works of Mueller Heine Uhland and others The curse may affect a town a castle or even a single house but the narrative content remains largely unchanged 1 Germelshausen is widely credited as having inspired the musical Brigadoon 2 3 However Lerner denied that he had based the book on an older story and in an explanation published in The New York Times stated that he did not learn of the existence of the Germelshausen story until after he had completed the first draft of Brigadoon 4 5 Lerner said that in his subsequent research he found many other legends of disappearing towns in various countries folklore and he pronounced their similarities unconscious coincidence 4 References Edit Gerstacker Friedrich 1896 Introduction Germelshausen Boston Heath pp vii Lees Gene 2005 Brigadoon The musical worlds of Lerner and Loewe U of Nebraska Press p 49 ISBN 0 8032 8040 8 Graeme Harper Meeting the Man from Planet X in Gary D Rhodes ed Edgar G Ulmer Detour on Poverty Row Lexington Books 2008 p 228 ISBN 9780739125670 a b Lerner Alan 1978 The Street Where I Live New York W W Norton amp Company p 26 Lerner Alan Jay March 30 1947 Drama Mailbag The New York Times p X3 External links EditGerstacker Friedrich 1893 Introduction Germelshausen Introduction and English notes by Carl Osthaus M A Boston Carl Schoenhof Retrieved 26 August 2008 Zoetrope Archived from the original on 14 August 2010 Retrieved 26 August 2008 This article about a short story or stories is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Germelshausen amp oldid 1161939563, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
