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Cheryl's Reviews > Emil and the Detectives
Emil and the Detectives
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And to think that these boys grew up to serve the Führer. But I'll try to set that thought aside.
A classic that doesn't age well. Pony, the girl cousin with the bicycle, is the most energetic and brave of all, but is delighted to be the one to make coffee and serve rolls to the boys, and to serve the cause primarily as liaison to the adults. The boys have entirely too much freedom... the 'sensibleness' of the more liberal parents is explained frighteningly convincingly. And there's so much good luck that it just seems like a fairy tale.
However, if I shut down my negative attitude, I can see that it is fun, funny, charming, and altogether a book that many adult fans of children's classics would indeed still enjoy.
Just don't get it confused with the Emil stories of Astrid Lindgren. That Emil is much more mischievous and alive, and is a bit younger, too. I believe this one is about 10 or 11.
A classic that doesn't age well. Pony, the girl cousin with the bicycle, is the most energetic and brave of all, but is delighted to be the one to make coffee and serve rolls to the boys, and to serve the cause primarily as liaison to the adults. The boys have entirely too much freedom... the 'sensibleness' of the more liberal parents is explained frighteningly convincingly. And there's so much good luck that it just seems like a fairy tale.
However, if I shut down my negative attitude, I can see that it is fun, funny, charming, and altogether a book that many adult fans of children's classics would indeed still enjoy.
Just don't get it confused with the Emil stories of Astrid Lindgren. That Emil is much more mischievous and alive, and is a bit younger, too. I believe this one is about 10 or 11.
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August 5, 2016
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August 5, 2016
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Cheryl
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rated it 3 stars
Aug 05, 2016 12:39PM
Btw, editions matter. To be clear, I read the one gracefully translated by May Massee. I have no idea why there are abridged adaptations available, and recommend you take special care to skip them. This printing, by Barnes and Noble, has delightful illustrations not credited... I don't know if they are by the author or by Walter Trier.
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There are so many books by Erich Kästner that are not as sexist and stereotypical, but Emil remains somehow the best known (especially in English language translation). It is the earliest of his children's books and the one that although on the surface, quite avant grade, really has a very traditional and conservative family structure below. Not a bad book, but definitely not a favourite like the Flying Classroom or Lottie and Lisa (the latter in particular).
I believe you.It's frustrating how many books that are beloved by children in other languages, like German and Swedish particularly, are not translated and published into English, or if they are, have a limited marketing budget and run.
Cheryl wrote: "I believe you.It's frustrating how many books that are beloved by children in other languages, like German and Swedish particularly, are not translated and published into English, or if they are, ..."
There is a brand new translation from 2015 of Pünktchen und Anton, Dot and Anton (translated by the very talented Anthea Bell). I will let you know of the translation is good, but I am optimistic as Anthea Bell is generally an amazing translator.
Cheryl wrote: "I believe you.It's frustrating how many books that are beloved by children in other languages, like German and Swedish particularly, are not translated and published into English, or if they are, ..."
Many of my favourite Astrid Lindgren translations are sevrely lacking (and even out of print) in English translation (or more precisely, American English translation). There have been a few newer translations that I consider great, Seacrow Island (again from 2015) really shines, but many of the earlier attempts leave much to be desired (with deliberate omissions and such).
Well, the 2007 translation by W. Martin of Emil is atrocious (at least I found it so), so I am now looking for a cheap version of the May Massee translation.
I completeley agree with you, Cheryl, that there are some sexual stereotypes in Kästners' novels: there are holy mothers and bad mothers, nothing else.But I disagree with your first sentence "And to think that these boys grew up to serve the Führer. " Maybe they did, but this wasn't Kästner's concern. Rather he always tried to warn of war, military behaviour and anti-democratic movements. Anyhow he was a child of enlightenment, studied Lessing, wasn't allowed to write under the Nazis. His books were burnt (not the children books, but for example his novel "Fabian").
So, the families/relationships in his work are very oldfashioned, but his political convictions are undoubted.
Oh, no, I understand that. I was thinking of the children, not of the author. Those poor boys, that were the models the characters were based on... some of them did grow up to be influenced into committing atrocities that we can't imagine them doing so, as we see them depicted here. And yet, all children, German, American, Japanese, do have understandings of loyalty, honor, adventure.... It's a lot to think about, and gives those of us who raise or educate children, especially boys, a responsibility to help them understand duty, compassion, etc., too.
But mostly I read and reviewed the book as myself, reading today in the 21st century. Context and author bio are of less concern to me than the value of the story to a modern young reader, and the enjoyment s/he would get out of it, which is, in turn, of less concern than the value and enjoyment I got out of it.
Thank you for helping to get that stuff cleared up.
Cheryl, thank you so much for suggesting the May Massee translation of Emil; it is indeed outstanding in every way and totally mirrors the German original, and a sweet antidote to the truly horrible 2007 by M. Martin that I downloaded and read a couple of weeks ago.
