Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908), endowed with an equipotent facility with sketch-pad and rhyming dictionary, created some of the most arresting sketches and drollest verses the world has yet seen.
In addition to the title piece, this book reprints โKer and Plunkโ (Plisch und Plum), โThe Egghead and the Two Cut-ups of Corinthโ (Diogenes and die bรถsen Buben von Korinth), โThe Raven-robbinโ Rascalsโ (Das Rabennest), โDeceitful Henryโ (Der hinterlistige Heinrich), โThe Boy and the Popgunโ (Das Pusterrohr), โIce-Peterโ (Der Eispeter), โThe Boy and the Pipeโ (Krischan mit der Piepe), โFirm Faithโ (Fester Glauben), โThe Two Ducks and the Frogโ (Die beiden Enten und der Frosch), and โCat and Mouseโ (Katze und Maus).
By turns malevolent, jovial, sardonic, diabolical, and bloodthirsty, these verses tellingly castigate hypocrisy, stodginess, stupidity, egotism, drunkenness, and other human foibles. The English translations, printed opposite the original German, are ingenious and faithful, with spice and sense both intact.