Persönlichkeit 5 - Wer bin ich?

Ich wurde am 25. Februar 1842 in einem kleinen Dorf unweit von Chemnitz geboren. Ich bin in ärmlichsten Verhältnissen in einer neunköpfigen Familie aufgewachsen und nach einer ziemlich traurigen Kindheit wurde ich Lehrer in einer Fabrikschule. Wegen Diebstahls und Betrugs saß ich mehrmals im Gefängnis. Ich begann aber im Zuchthaus zu schreiben und um 1875 als Redakteur verschiedener Zeitschriften begann ich meine Schriftstellerlaufbahn. Zunächst schrieb ich kleinere Humoresken und Kurzgeschichten, aber mein großer Erfolg kam erst nachdem ich meine berühmten Abenteuer- und Reiseerzählungen schrieb. Ich hatte Millionen von Lesern in der deutschsprachigen Welt und heute noch kaufen junge Leute meine Bücher, wenn auch nicht so viel wie früher. Meine Werke wurden auch in mehr als fünfundzwanzig Sprachen übersetzt. Obwohl ich viele Schwierigkeiten mit meinem Verleger hatte und viel Geld für Anwälte und Prozesse ausgeben musste, steht meine „Villa Shatterhand“ immer noch in Radebeul bei Dresden und ist heute ein Museum. Am 30. März 1912 starb ich in Radebeul. - Wer bin ich?

(English version below the answer.)

Antwort - Ratespiel 5

Bio Extra: The German writer KARL MAY (pron. MY) never saw most of the places he wrote about. Amazingly, despite some errors, most of the details in his many adventure tales still hold up to scrutiny. Although the influence of TV, movies and video games has lessened his appeal to young readers in the German world somewhat, most middle-aged and older Austrians, Germans and German Swiss grew up reading May's stories of Indians in the American West (they were the good guys in May's books), Arabian princes or the Aztecs in Mexico. Some of his stories were made into movies in the 1960s and '70s. The farthest west May ever got in the US was Buffalo, New York – and that was long after he had written about Old Surehand and Winnetou. His house near Dresden ("Villa Shatterhand") is now a museum. For more about May and the Karl May Society, see the Web links below.

SAMPLE MAY BOOKS/BÜCHER: (May wrote over 70 books.)

Durch die Wüste
Der Schut
Der Ölprinz
Winnetou I-III
Old Surehand I-II
Der Schatz im Silbersee
Die Pyramide des Sonnengottes
Am Stillen Ozean
Durchs wilde Kurdistan

I was born on 25 February 1842 in a small town not far from Chemnitz. I grew up in the poorest of circumstances in a family of nine, and after a rather sad childhood, I became a teacher in a factory school. I went to prison several times for theft and fraud. But it was in prison that I began to write, and around 1875, as editor of several periodicals I started my career as an author. At first I wrote smaller humoresques and short stories, but my great success didn't come until after I wrote my famous adventure and travel stories. I had millions of readers in the German-speaking world and even today young people buy my books, even if not as much as in earlier times. My works have also been translated into more than 25 languages. Although I had difficulties with my publisher and had to spend a lot of money for lawyers and trials, my “Villa Shatterhand” is still standing in Radebeul by Dresden and is today a museum. On the 30th of March 1912 I died in Radebeul. - Who am I?

Copyright © 2001 Hyde Flippo

Karl May: Lesestück 1
An overview of Karl May's life and a reading comprehension excerpt from Winnetou I – with questions. From your Guide.

Karl May Links
From your Guide: Links to Karl May sites related to his life and work. Includes books, films, fan sites and more links like the three below.

Karl May - DHM
Biografie von May. Vom Deutschen Historischen Museum.

Karl-May-Gesellschaft
Die Website der Karl-May-Gesellschaft. Abenteuergeschichten aus dem wilden Westen und exotischen Ländern. Some English pages.

Karl May - Projekt Gutenberg
Many of May's works at the Projekt Gutenberg Web site.

Wer bin ich? Ratespiel - Einleitung
Unser biografisches Ratespiel. Introduction to our biographical guessing game series.

• Ratespiel 1
• Ratespiel 2
• Ratespiel 3
• Ratespiel 4
• Ratespiel 5
• Ratespiel 6

Famous Germans
A reference list with brief biographies of famous Germans, Austrians and German Swiss throughout history. In English. From the German Way and More.

Find A Grave
Find the graves of the dead and famous – many with photos! Search by name or location.

The German-Hollywood Connection
Biographies and references related to famous German, Austrian and German Swiss film people and their movies. In English.

Preisrätsel - Spektrum der Wissenschaft
Wer die richtige Lösung einsendet, kann einen Preis gewinnen. Von der deutschen Version des Scientific American-Magazins.

Fun/Spaß
Links to fun and funny sites in German.

German for Beginners
Our free online course adds new lessons on a regular basis.

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