About the Book
Grimmelshausen's enduring fame as Germany's greatest satirical novelist has rested mainly on The Adventerous Simplicissimus, the first of four novels comprising the Simplician cycle. Less well known, though of equal interest for their penetrating and satiric insight into seventeenth-century beliefs and superstitions, are the two Simplician tales now made available to English readers in this edition: Courage, The Adventuress, the fictional biography of a camp follower in the Thirty Years War, a grimly humorous tale told in the earthy language of the people; and The False Messiah, comprising nine chapters from Grimmelshausen's last work, The Enchanted Bird's Nest, Part II. The book includes an Introduction with an account of Grimmelshausen's life, works, and philosophy, as well as critical comment on the two works. Originally published in 1964. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions.
The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
Table of Contents:
*Frontmatter, pg. i*Acknowledgments, pg. v*CONTENTS, pg. vii*INTRODUCTION, pg. 1*CONTENTS, pg. 83*CHAPTER I. THOROUGH AND NECESSARY PREFACE DEALING WITH THE QUESTION FOR WHOSE SAKE AND PLEASURE AND FOR WHAT PRESSING REASONS COURAGE, THE OLD MASTER CHEAT, VAGRANT, AND GYPSY, RELATES HER WONDROUS AND VERY STRANGE LIFE AND DISPLAYS IT BEFORE THE EYES OF THE WHOLE WORLD, pg. 89*CHAPTER II. MISTRESS LIBUSCHKA, LATER CALLED COURAGE, GETS INTO THE WAR, CALLS HERSELF JANCO, AND FOR A WHILE ACTS AS A SERVANT. ITEM : AN ACCOUNT OF HER BEHAVIOR AND OF THE STRANGE THINGS WHICH HAPPEN TO HER, pg. 93*CHAPTER III. JANCO LOSES HIS FINE LITTLE VIRGIN WREATH IN THE QUARTERS OF THE RESOLUTE CAVALRY CAPTAIN, RECEIVING IN RETURN THE NAME COURAGE, pg. 97*CHAPTER IV. COURAGE BECOMES THE WIFE OF THE CAVALRY CAPTAIN BECAUSE IT WAS CERTAIN THAT SHE WOULD BE A WIDOW SOON THEREAFTER, BUT FIRST SHE IS SINGLE IN THE WEDDED STATE, pg. 102*CHAPTER V. THE HONEST AND VIRTUOUS AS WELL AS EVIL AND GODLESS WAYS OF COURAGE, THE CAVALRY CAPTAIN'S WIFE: HOW SHE YIELDS TO THE WILL OF A COUNT, ACQUIRES THE PISTOLES OF AN AMBASSADOR, AND SUBMITS WILLINGLY TO OTHERS IN ORDER TO SNAP UP A RICH BOOTY, pg. 106*CHAPTER VI. BY A MIRACULOUS FATE COURAGE ENTERS HER SECOND WEDLOCK, MARRYING A CAPTAIN WITH WHOM SHE LIVES IN JOY AND HAPPINESS, pg. 112*CHAPTER VII. COURAGE ENTERS HER THIRD MARRIAGE, THEREBY BECOMING THE WIFE OF A LIEUTENANT INSTEAD OF A CAPTAIN, AND FARES NOT AS WELL AS BEFORE; SHE FIGHTS WITH HER LIEUTENANT WITH CUDGELS FOR THE PANTS OF THE FAMILY AND WINS THEM THROUGH BRAVE RESOLUTION AND VALOR; WHEREUPON HER HUSBAND JILTS HER AND TAKES OFF, pg. 116*CHAPTER VIII. COURAGE STAYS FRESH AND HEALTHY IN AN ENCOUNTER, CUTS A SOLDIER'S HEAD OFF, CAPTURES A MAJOR, AND LEARNS THAT HER LIEUTENANT WAS CAUGHT AND HANGED AS A DESERTER WHO HAD BROKEN HIS OATH, pg. 120*CHAPTER IX. COURAGE QUITS THE WAR WHEN HER LUCKY STAR FADES AND ALMOST EVERYONE MAKES FUN OF HER, pg. 124*CHAPTER X. COURAGE LEARNS WHO HER PARENTS WERE AND GETS ANOTHER HUSBAND, pg. 128*CHAPTER XI. WHEN COURAGE TRIES TO BEHAVE LIKE A DECENT WOMAN, SHE UNEXPECTEDLY BECOMES A WIDOW AGAIN, pg. 133*CHAPTER XII. COURAGE HAS TO PAY A PRICE FOR HER PRICELESS COURAGE, pg. 137*CHAPTER XIII. ABOUT THE GOOD DAYS AND NIGHTS WHICH THE LITTLE PRINCESS ENJOYED IN THE CASTLE AND HOW SHE LOST THEM, pg. 142*CHAPTER XIV. WHAT COURAGE DID NEXT: AFTER THE DEATH OF TWO TROOPERS SHE GETS HOLD OF A MUSKETEER, pg. 147*CHAPTER XV. THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH COURAGE AND THE MUSKETEER PROMISE EACH OTHER TO LIVE IN THE WEDDED STATE SINGLY, pg. 153*CHAPTER XVI. HOW SKIPINTHEFIELD AND COURAGE LIVED TOGETHER, pg. 160*CHAPTER XVII. HOW COURAGE BECOMES THE BUTT OF A PRACTICAL JOKE AND HOW SHE TAKES HER REVENGE, pg. 165*CHAPTER XVIII. THE EXCESSIVE WICKEDNESS OF UNSCRUPULOUS COURAGE, pg. 171*CHAPTER XIX. WHAT KIND OF MASTER SKIPINTHEFIELD HAD BEFORE HE REACHED PERFECTION, pg. 178*CHAPTER XX. HOW SKIPINTHEFIELD AND COURAGE ROBBED TWO ITALIANS, pg. 185*CHAPTER XXI. TALE OF AN ENCOUNTER WHICH HAPPENED IN SLEEP, pg. 188*CHAPTER XXII. THE REASONS WHY SKIPINTHEFIELD AND COURAGE GOT DIVORCED AND WHAT SHE GAVE HIM AT THE END, pg. 193*CHAPTER XXIII. HOW COURAGE LOST ANOTHER HUSBAND AND HOW SHE BEHAVED THEREAFTER, pg. 198*CHAPTER XXIV. HOW SIMPLICISSIMUS AND COURAGE GOT TO KNOW AND BETRAY EACH OTHER, pg. 203*CHAPTER XXV. COURAGE IS CAUGHT IN HER EVIL DOINGS AND BANISHED FROM THE CITY, pg. 207*CHAPTER XXVI. COURAGE BECOMES THE WIFE OF A MUSKETEER AND CARRIES ON A LOW TRADE IN TOBACCO AND BRANDY. HER HUSBAND IS SENT AWAY, FINDS ON HIS WAY A DEAD SOLDIER WHOM HE STRIPS BARE AND WHOSE LEGS HE CUTS OFF SINCE HE CAN'T GET HIS TROUSERS OFF. HAVING PACKED UP HIS LOOT, HE STAYS IN A PEASANT'S HOUSE OVERNIGHT, LEAVES THE LEGS THERE AND RUNS AWAY ALL OF WHICH LEADS TO A HILARIOUS FARCE, pg. 211*CHAPTER XXVII. AFTER HER HUSBAND IS KILLED IN AN ENGAGEMENT, COURAGE ESCAPES ON HER MULE. SHE MEETS A BAND OF GYPSIES, WHOSE LIEUTENANT TAKES HER AS HIS WIFE. SHE TELLS THE FORTUNE OF A YOUNG LADY IN LOVE, PURLOINING FROM HER IN THE PROCESS ALL HER JEWELS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO HOLD ON TO THEM FOR LONG; SHE GETS A GOOD BEATING AND IS FORCED TO RETURN THEM., pg. 216*CHAPTER XXVIII. COURAGE AND HER COMPANY ARRIVE IN A VILLAGE WHERE THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH IS BEING HELD. SHE INCITES A YOUNG GYPSY TO SHOOT A CHICKEN; HER HUSBAND PRETENDS HE IS GOING TO HANG HIM AND WHEN EVERYONE LEAVES THE VILLAGE TO WATCH THE SPECTACLE, THE GYPSY WOMEN STEAL ALL THE FOOD THEY CAN FIND, AND WITH CUNNING AND DISPATCH THE WHOLE BAND TAKES OFF, pg. 220*THE AUTHOR'S POSTSCRIPT, pg. 224*PREFACE, pg. 227*CONTENTS, pg. 229*CHAPTER I. THE BEST WAY TO SURVIVE WAR IS SOUGHT AND FOUND BUT THE WORST IS CHOSEN, pg. 231*CHAPTER II. WHAT THE JEWS THINK OF ELIJAH AND BELIEVE ABOUT THE HOPED-FOR FUTURE MESSIAH, pg. 240*CHAPTER III. ELIJAH ARRIVES AND DINES AS A GUEST, THE ANGEL URIEL ANNOUNCES THE JEWISH MESSIAH, AND OTHER GREAT PORTENTS, pg. 249*CHAPTER IV. ELIJAH PREPARES THE LOOM FOR THE MASHIAH, ESTHER FINISHES THE WEAVING, AND FINALLY THE MOUNTAIN GIVES BIRTH TO A LUDICROUS LITTLE MOUSE, pg. 257*CHAPTER V. HOW ERASMUS CONDUCTED HIMSELF AND HOW HE WAS DELIVERED FROM TEMPTATION, pg. 264*CHAPTER VI. HE WHO WANTS TO KNOW THE CONTENT OF THIS CHAPTER MUST EITHER READ IT HIMSELF OR HAVE IT READ TO HIM, UNLESS SOMEBODY TELLS HIM ABOUT IT, pg. 270*CHAPTER VII. A GOLDEN HAUL WITH A WOODEN FISHING-ROD, AND OTHER WHIMS, pg. 275*CHAPTER VIII. COW AND CALF ARE BROUGHT TO ANOTHER SHED, pg. 281*CHAPTER IX. HAPPENINGS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE WEDDING, pg. 288
