My Shockheaded Ignorance

The other day I was talking to my mom on the phone, chatting about this and that. At some point during our conversation we began discussing children's literature, and how it has changed over history from those scary, highly moralistic tales to what we know today.

"For example," my mother said, "You should count your blessings that you didn't have to read the tales from Der Struwwelpeter, otherwise known as Shockheaded Peter."

"Shockheaded who?" I asked.

And so it came to be that I finally found out about the nasty, grisly (and fascinating!) stories of Shockheaded Peter. How could I not have known about this? Perhaps I should be punished, like all the naughty children in these terrible tales. Well, perhaps not. Der Struwwelpeter is a popular German's children's book written by Heinrich Hoffman, a Franfurt physician who took it upon himself to write and illustrate his own children's book for his son, because he wasn't impressed with what he saw available at bookstores. The book was published in 1845, and contains 10 tales about various naughty children, who sometimes come to pretty horrific ends because they don't do as they are told. For example, the story Shockheaded Peter is about a boy who doesn't groom himself properly, and so his appearance becomes so horrid, nobody wants to be near him. Hence the shockingly messy head of hair and the long fingernails (I wonder – was Edward Scissorhands inspired in some way by this tale?). In another tale, The Dreadful Story of Pauline and the Matches, a girl plays with matches, and burns herself to death. Lovely, huh? And my favourite, The Story of Little Suck-a-Thumb, a mother warns her son not to suck his thumbs, but he disobeys her anyway, and when mummy goes out, a roving tailor pops by and cuts off his thumbs with a pair of scissors. Now there's a lesson for ya!

I am so fascinated by these stories that I'm definitely purchasing the English translation with the original illustrations. And while searching around online, I also discovered that the amazingly talented illustrator Bob Staake took it upon himself a few years ago to illustrate those tales. The book is published by Fantagraphics, and I must have it, too!

In fact, these horrid little stories have inspired (and perhaps messed up?) many creative folk over the years. Shockheaded Peter is also a musical, containing elements of pantomime and puppetry to tell all ten tales. In the original stories, only some of the children die because of their bad behaviour, but in the musical, no kid gets out alive. Below is a creepy photo from the musical, and click here to watch the musical intro as well as the song about The Story of Little Suck-a-Thumb. Just remember that it ain't exactly for the faint of heart. It's dark and gloomy and I love it!!

So I wonder...would I have been freaked out as a kid if I read these stories? I don't think so. I loved being scared as a kid, and I read some pretty sad and scary fairy tales when I was young. So gee whiz, mom – you deprived me of Shockheaded Peter!!

Comments

[cipriano]

Jesus, Girlfrien'!
Now I'm going to have nightmares!
What a delightfully horrid blog!
What ever happened to Goldilocks And The Three Bears?
A thoroughly virtuous story about a group of bears, who prefer girlflesh to porridge, when things come down to actual eating!
-- Cipper

[runescape accounts]

Just wanted to say HI. I found your blog a few days ago and have been reading it over the past few days.

[Ana]

I was read this as a child. Lost of nightmares but now it's a fond memory. The illustrations are wonderful.

I blame the boy who didn't drink his soup for my compulsive eating habits!

[Beth]

Here’s where we differ – those stories would give me bad dreams – both as a child and now!

I read the Chatelaine article – you interview so well. (No new books – argh!!!)

[Sandra]

OMG...that performance was amazing and I would love to see it live...but the poor kid who sucked their thumbs and was read that story as a child...the poor kid!