Peter Schlemihl

By Adelbert von Chamisso
Translated by Leopold von Loewenstein-Wertheim

Unsuccessful in his endeavors, the young and naive Peter Schlemihl seals a pact with the Devil in which he exchanges his shadow for the purse of Fortunatus, thereby gaining everlasting riches. But when he is ridiculed, persecuted and hated for being different from other men, he realizes that poverty is easier to bear than the loss of his peace of mind.

Originally written as a cautionary tale for the children of Chamisso's patron, Peter Schlemihl was hailed by contemporaries as a masterpiece with a wide adult appeal, and continues to capture imaginations today.

Paperback
128 pages
Alma Classics, 2024
Originally published in 1814
5.1 x 0.4 x 7.75 inches
ISBN 9781847499233
Children’s Book, Adelbert von Chamisso