Emil and the Detectives and The Land of Cockaigne

[Steve Hayes]

When I was at school I read a book containing two stories:

Emil and the Detectives
and
The Land of Cockaigne

Both were, I believe, written by German authors between the world
wars, and I wonder whether anyone else remembers reading them.

Just about the only thing I remember about "The Land of Cockaigne" was
that it had hens going about dragging frying pans, and laying eggs
that were immediatelt friend and ready to eat.

A few years later I read the song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" which
seemed to embody the same concept, though it was of American rather
than German origin.

[Joerg Walther]

Post by Steve Hayes
Emil and the Detectives
and
The Land of Cockaigne
Both were, I believe, written by German authors between the world
wars, and I wonder whether anyone else remembers reading them.

I only know Emil und die Detektive, written by Erich Kästner. In fact,
this one is still very popular in Germany and I have read it more than
once with my 5th graders. It has been turned into a film 3 times, the
oldest one is from 1931 and the script was written by Billy Wilder, who
later made it big in Hollywood. I would definitely recommend this for
watching, it's so lovingly made and it shows the old Berlin from before
the war but I do not know if an English version, whether synchronized or
subtitled, is available.

-jw-

[Steve Hayes]

On Wed, 03 Apr 2024 18:58:25 +0200, Joerg Walther

Post by Joerg Walther

Post by Steve Hayes
Emil and the Detectives
and
The Land of Cockaigne
Both were, I believe, written by German authors between the world
wars, and I wonder whether anyone else remembers reading them.

I only know Emil und die Detektive, written by Erich Kästner. In fact,
this one is still very popular in Germany and I have read it more than
once with my 5th graders. It has been turned into a film 3 times, the
oldest one is from 1931 and the script was written by Billy Wilder, who
later made it big in Hollywood. I would definitely recommend this for
watching, it's so lovingly made and it shows the old Berlin from before
the war but I do not know if an English version, whether synchronized or
subtitled, is available.

Thanks very much. Good to see that it is still popular with today's
kids. Some say that they won't like it because there are no cell
phones etc.

[Joerg Walther]

Post by Steve Hayes
Thanks very much. Good to see that it is still popular with today's
kids. Some say that they won't like it because there are no cell
phones etc.

I've never noticed this, probably because the story is both suspenseful
and funny.

-jw-

[Joerg Walther]

Post by Steve Hayes
Just about the only thing I remember about "The Land of Cockaigne" was
that it had hens going about dragging frying pans, and laying eggs
that were immediatelt friend and ready to eat.

OK, I found it, it is a fairy tale by Ludwig Bechstein, it is called "Im
Schlaraffenland" (Land of Plenty or Cockaigne), you can find the German
version here: https://www.maerchenstern.de/maerchen/schlaraffenland.php
and if you do not speak German let Google translate it for you. :)

-jw-

[jsmith]

Post by Steve Hayes
Emil and the Detectives
and
The Land of Cockaigne
Both were, I believe, written by German authors between the world
wars, and I wonder whether anyone else remembers reading them.

I've not heard of the second one, but I remember the first one from my
own childhood! I'm still tremendously fond of it. Very vivid setting
(the plot actually pays attention to public transport and payphone
practicalities, can you imagine?). There was also a sequel — Emil und
die drei Zwillinge (Emil and the Three Twins), if I remember right... I
had thought it to be boring and needlessly convoluted, when I first read
it, but it's probably no less charming.

I also read and loved Das doppelte Lottchen (Lisa and Lottie) and
Pünktchen und Anton (Dot and Anton) by the same author... Maybe someone
here remembers those as well.

Post by Steve Hayes
Thanks very much. Good to see that it is still popular with today's
kids. Some say that they won't like it because there are no cell
phones etc.

I'm quite sure kids are capable of comprehending the concept of a book
being set in a different time and place. :-)

[Michael F. Stemper]

Post by jsmith

Post by Steve Hayes
Emil and the Detectives
and
The Land of Cockaigne
Both were, I believe, written by German authors between the world
wars, and I wonder whether anyone else remembers reading them.

I've not heard of the second one, but I remember the first one from my
own childhood! I'm still tremendously fond of it. Very vivid setting
(the plot actually pays attention to public transport and payphone
practicalities, can you imagine?)

I first heard of Emil's author, Erich Kästner, when a classmate in sixth
grade gave a book report on his _The 35th of May_, which led me to
immediately check it out from our school library. Great fun!

Speaking of phones and public transportation, in Chapter V, it portrayed
a man on a moving walkway, who decided to make a call on his mobile phone.
He got off the walkway to deal with it!

I never read Emil until I checked it out (from a library in a different
state) to read it to my son. For me, it was so-so.

[Steve Hayes]

On Sat, 24 Aug 2024 11:04:22 -0500, "Michael F. Stemper"

Post by Michael F. Stemper

Post by jsmith

Post by Steve Hayes
Emil and the Detectives
and
The Land of Cockaigne
Both were, I believe, written by German authors between the world
wars, and I wonder whether anyone else remembers reading them.

I've not heard of the second one, but I remember the first one from my
own childhood! I'm still tremendously fond of it. Very vivid setting
(the plot actually pays attention to public transport and payphone
practicalities, can you imagine?)

I first heard of Emil's author, Erich Kästner, when a classmate in sixth
grade gave a book report on his _The 35th of May_, which led me to
immediately check it out from our school library. Great fun!
Speaking of phones and public transportation, in Chapter V, it portrayed
a man on a moving walkway, who decided to make a call on his mobile phone.
He got off the walkway to deal with it!
I never read Emil until I checked it out (from a library in a different
state) to read it to my son. For me, it was so-so.

For me too, but the "Emil and the Detectives" seems to be better known
than "The Land of Cockaign", though I found that story more
interesting and would like to read it again. I remember it had hens
with frying pans tied to them so they could lay fried eggs.