Patrick Süskind, Die Geschichte von Herrn Sommer [The Story of Mr Sommer]

Jeffrey T. Adams (University of North Carolina, Greensboro)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.1: German-language Writing and Culture: Germany, 500-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1991

Places

Germany (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novella

Resources

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After the dark story of Grenouille, the serial killer of

Perfume

(1985), and the Kafkaesque tale of Jonathan Noel, the reclusive protagonist of

The Pigeon

(1987), Süskind takes a different tack in

The Story of Mr. Sommer

(1991), presenting the reader with a charming portrayal of boyhood innocence and experience. Written as a children’s tale for adults (featuring abundant drawings by the French artist Sempe), Süskind’s novella evokes not only memories of childhood, when mighty flights of imagination were still possible and climbing trees was still a lofty aspiration, but also exudes a fairy-tale atmosphere reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm. While typical scenes from a young boy’s life carry the narrative, the sure-handed characterization also allows the reader to identify easily…

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906 words

Citation: Adams, Jeffrey T.. "Die Geschichte von Herrn Sommer". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 July 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16833, accessed 16 April 2024.]

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