The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen

THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHHAUSEN

Author:

First edition:

Baron Münchhausen's Narrative of his marvellous Travels and Campaigns in Russia, 1785.

Main illustrators:

Croqwill Cruikshank Doré Giffey Hosemann Kubin Maja Newell Plonck Strang

In short:

Baron Munchhausen, who pretends to be 200 years old, narrates his supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits. We can read some of his hunting adventures, his experiences in the Turkinsh wars and an account of his incredible travels --be it on the Ocean, the Moon or in a Volcano.

Selection of edition:

Münchhausen, illustrated by Theodor Hosemann, 16 ill., 1840.
Baron Münchhausen, illustrated by Alfred Croqwill, 1858.
Münchhausen, illustrated by Gustave Doré, 158 ill., Furne, 1862.
Münchhausen, illustrated by George Cruikshank, 1867.
Münchhausen, illustrated by Philipp Sporrer, Amelong, 1874.
Münchhausen, illustrated by Joseph Benwell Clarck and Willima Strang, Lawrence & Bulle, 1895.
Mr Münchhausen, illustrated by Newell, 14 ill., Plott, 1901.
Baron von Münchhausen, illustrated by Willy Plonck, Weise, 1907.
Münchhausen, illustrated by August von Wille, 8 lithographies, Arnz, 1913.
Münchhausen, illustrated by Adolfo Bangini, Salami, 1924.
Münchhausen, illustrated by Franz Wacik, Scholz, 1930.
Les Aventures du Baron de Münchhausen, illustrated by René Giffey, Delagrave, 1932.
Münchhausen, illustrated by Kubin, 1947.
Aventures du baron Münchhausen, illustrated by Françoise Pichard, Hachette, 1978.
Les aventures du baron de Münchhausen, illustrated by Daniel Maja, Hachette, 1989.
Aventures du baron de Münchhausen, illustrated by E. Bichard, Hachette, 1994.

More about The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen:

The hero of this story is a historical character: Karl Friedrich Hieronymus, baron of Münchhausen (1720-1797). Lieutenant and cavalry officer in a Russian regiment, he defeated the Turcs in 1716. Then he moved to Hannover, where he used to narrate his unbelievable adventures of war, hunting and travels. Rudolf Eric Raspe recorded and compilled these stories, and added some others, product of his own imagination.
Gottfried August Bürger (1747-1794) wrote a second version in 1876, translating Raspe's tales into German and enlarging the compilation. He added a satirical mood and poetic style. And this version is the most illustrated one.

Adaptations :

There have been several adaptions of the Münchhausen stories in different forms, such as the novel (K.L. Immermann), drama (H. Eulenberg, F. Lienhard, H. von Gumppenberg) and film (screenplay by E. Küstner, 1943).
More recently, the director Terry Gilliam produced The Adventures of baron Munchhausen, British film, 1989.