Slovenly Peter

SOLVENLY PETER

Author:

First edition:

Der Stuwwelpeter, Löning, 1845
Translated into English as Slovenly Peter; or, Cheerful Stories and Funny Pictures for Good Little Folks

Main illustrators:

Hoffman Lapointe

In short:

This is the story of Slovenly Peter (or Shock-headed Peter), a boy whose wild appearance is matched by his naughty behaviour. His scruffy hair and his long nails made all children laugh but at the same time fear him. The book is made out of short poems wich pretend to amuse and educate with its macabre humour, like the story of the three boys who laughed at a black boy and were thown into an ink tank.

Selection of edition:

Slovenly Peter, illustrated by Claude Lapointe, Harlin Quist, 1971.

More about Slovenly Peter:

Hoffman was looking for a Christmas gift for hi four-year-old son, and finding nothing suitable, he decided to write and illustrate a character for him.
Since the time it was first published in 1844, Der Struwwelpeter got translated not only into English but into many other different languages, amongst them Dutch, French, Danish and Mandarin. The translation into English was done by Mark Twain, and Louis Ratisbonne was in charge of the French version (titled Pierre l'Ebouriffé).
Maurice Sendak, one of the most famous children's books illustrators, have stated about its drawings: "Graphically it is one of the most beautiful books in the world."

Excerpt of the book:

Just look at him! There he stands,
With his nasty hair and hands.
See! his nails are never cut;
They are grim'd as black as soot;
And the sloven, I declare,
Never once has comb'd his hair; Any thing to me is sweeter
Than to see Shock-headed Peter.

On the Internet:

Find all the illustrations and material related to Slovenly Peter in his site.