Harry Steinhauer 
First German Reader 
A Beginner’s Dual-Language Book

Designed expressly for the beginning German language student, here is an outstanding collection of fifty-two short stories, poems, essays, and anecdotes. Each selection has been specially chosen for its power to evoke German life and culture. This dual-language edition features precise English translations on pages that face the original German text. New students will enjoy the pleasure of reading great German literature from the very first page, as the selections have been arranged to accommodate the gradual improvement of language skills. Helpful vocabulary and language exercises are also included.


First German Reader features the works of many of Germany’s best writers, including Goethe, Hesse, Heine, Schiller, Hölderlin, and other literary virtuosos. The translations of Harry Steinhauer are vivid and true to the originals—and poetic in their own right. Literature lovers, German language students, and other readers will find this volume an accessible exploration of German literature . . . and an invaluable aid to mastering the German language.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface

1. Johann Gottfried Herder, Life

2. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, The Phoenix

3. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Wanderer’s Night Song

4. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, The Benefactions

5. Albrecht Goes, The Steps

6. Johann Peter Hebel, Gratitude and Ingratitude of Children

7. Brüder Grimm, The Little Peasant in Heaven

8. Hermann Hesse, In the Mist

9. Hermann Hesse, Trees

10. Walter Bauer, Yearning for What

11. Brüder Grimm, The Life Span

12. On Germany: 1. Country and People

13. Wilhelm Schmidtbonn, The Ferryman and the Monk

14. Thoughts I

15. Heinrich Heine, There Was an Old King

16. On Germany: 2. Economics

17. Otto Ludwig, Fortune and Misfortune

18. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Lynkeus‘ Song

19. Walter Bauer, Bach

20. On Germany: 3. The Social Structure; 4. Culture

21. Thoughts II

22. Wilhelm Müller, The Linden Tree

23. The Dangers of Translating

24. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, May Song

25. Fritz Mauthner, The School of Giving and the School of Taking

26. Eduard Mörike, September Morning

27. About the German Language

28. Walter Bauer, Kant

29. Wilhelm Busch, The Indispensable One

30. On Germany: 5. Art; 6. Balance Sheet

31. Eduard Mörike, Seclusion

32. Thoughts III

33. Goethe

34. Peter Rosegger, When Winter Comes

35. Walter Bauer, Martin Luther

36. Theodor Storm, Close Both My Eyes

37. Kurt Tucholsky, What We Are Proud of in Europe

38. Heinrich Heine, The Silesian Weavers

39. Johann Peter Hebel, Kannitverstan

40. German Philosophy

41. Friedrich von Schiller, The Glove

42. Peter Bamm, In Memoriam Rockefeller

43. Matthias Claudius, Of Friendship

44. Paul Ernst, The Bed

45. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Autumnal Feeling

46. Waldemar Bonsels, The Grasshopper

47. William Shakespeare, Hamlet’s Monologue

48. Thoughts IV

49. Herbert Eulenberg, Walt Whitman

50. August Graf von Platen, Tristan

51. Ludwig Börne, On Social Intercourse

52. Friedrich Hölderlin, The Half of Life

Notes

Questions

Vocabulary

Über den Autor

A native of Cracow, Poland, Harry Steinhauer was Professor Emeritus and Founding Chair of the Germanic, Slavic, and Semitic Studies Department at the University of Santa Barbara.