[Gutenberg 62229] • The Story Without an End

Kinderleben oder das Mährchen ohne Ende (1830) is a unique product of late German Romanticism. As a Kunstmärchen or 'artificial' fairy tale (as opposed to the more 'authentic' tales collected by the Grimm brothers, for example) it combines aspects of the traditional fairy tale with philosophical ideals, particularly those of idealism. Although only one edition ever appeared in Germany, it enjoyed wide popularity in England and the United States as The Story Without an End (1834), adapted by the foremost English translator of the period, Sarah Austin, on whom much critical attention has recently been focused. This new edition of text and translation includes a valuable commentary with notes on the nine illustrators and a list of all previous editions of the work.