Stories and Legends of the Rhine between Worms and Cologne : Groos , 1880 [ Wagner , Witchcraft , Germany ]
$500
In stock
Description
Rare English – language pamphlet of Rhine legends with references to Witchcraft , Wagner ‘s Ring – Cycle and the poetry and folklore of Medieval Germany .
Groos, Charles. Stories and Legends of the Rhine between Worms and Cologne. Heidelberg : Charles Groos. New and revised edition [ second edition ]. 1880.
This scarce English language collection of German myths from along the Rhine is a fascinating time capsule of 19th century German Romanticism and catering to English speaking tourists. Opening with a synopsis of the “recently” re-popularized legend of Seigfried’s fatal love triangle with Kreimhild and Brunhild ( recognizable today as a reference to the Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner ) the book’s stories are organized Geographically. In addition to treatments on the folk worship and grave veneration of the medieval poet Heinrich Von Meissen, the text covers both Hildegard von Bingen and Bingen’s Mouse Tower, where Bishop Hatto II was supposedly eaten alive by rodents. Also interesting is the inclusion of the possibly literary legend of the Sorceress or siren of the Rhine, Lorelay, who receives her own chapter with two translations of German poetic sources. The connection to the Ring Cycle, which has its start in Norse epics and the legends of gold in the Rhine , is especially striking as Wagner only completed the final portion, Gotterdammerung, which includes the death of Seigfried, in 1876 and the premier in the United Kingdom would not occur until 1882.
Only five copies found in OCLC along with two copies of the not yet expanded 1870 first edition.
16mo, 146pp, perfect bound pamphlet with printed paper wraps. Corners bumped with minor soiling near wrap edges. Contemporary ownership signature front wrap top margin “Z.E. Bancroft Baden – Baden 9/29/83” in pen. Bottom spine end worn. Occasional spotting and dog earring some pages. Very good condition.
If you liked this book, you might also like this second edition of Dance and Drama in Bali with extensive photographs of ritual dances.
