The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Alan Rodgers Books) [Paperback]

Rudolph Erich Raspe (Author)

Book Description

Series: Alan Rodgers Books | Publication Date: February 4, 2003

THE SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN is a tall tale of majestic proportion, like the Baron himself. MUNCHAUSEN twists wildly and whimsically, playing on the reader, the characters, and Baron Munchausen himself. There's a reason why this rare classic has become a part of our language -- don't miss this one.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Baron Munchausen was in part the creation of Rudolphe Erich Raspé (1737-1794) who led a life worthy of a tall tale: naturalist, antiquarian, scholar and theif, his name figures with Daniel Defoe and Johnathan Swift as one of the great "travel liars." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Wildside Press (February 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587155699
• ISBN-13: 978-1587155697
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,488,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Collection of Tall Tales!, March 14, 2004

By 

Avid Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Hardcover)

Anyone who ever laughed at the exploits of tall-tale heroes such as Paul Bunyan will instantly recognize the character of the Baron von Munchausen as the king of such heroes. His amazing and daring exploits are rife with hilarity and implausibility. It's part fairytale, part tall tale. The Baron is a figure of pure imagination (loosely based on a real person), a Quixotic figure. Do not confuse this book with a biography or history! Clearly the purpose of the book is to entertain and delight, which it does. The writing displays a superb creativity and imagination, combined with brilliant storytelling of the highest level. Just as you would not read Journey to the West seeking information on beauracratic procedures of ancient China, or Don Quixote de la Mancha seeking knowledge about Spanish funerary customs, you should not read this book looking to learn about the Munchausen family's history or current state. You should read it for the pure thrill of reading a good tale.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous for all ages, July 26, 2005

By 

Frikle - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Alan Rodgers Books) (Paperback)

Most would be familiar with the image of Munchausen telling implausible tales with happy glee. The Raspe version is the "canonical" Munchausen story and it's very entertaining. I think that stories for children that mock reality are very good for both amusement and education and this book certainly has its share - for instance the Baron's famous pulling himself out of a bog by his own hair (in an alternate version by the bootstraps, which seems to have formed the origin for the word "bootstrapping" and a general metaphor). His tales also have the classic sense of unbelievable exploration tradition from works like the Arabian Nights and Marco Polo's travels, where exotic lands are described as being populated with people with one giant foot each and other niceties.

We laugh at Munchausen but not only so much for the tallness of his stories but also for his character traits such as his pomp and sense of self-importance. As is the case with MANY good children's books, they are philosophical and suit adults as well.

The only possible dent may be the portrayal of the Turks which would seem racist by some today. However, this is extremely mild compared to racism in many other classic works, and was certainly not enough to detract from my enjoyment (as was the case with certain other authors from the last few centuries).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute delight, August 9, 2010

By 

E. M. Van Court "Van, emvc (at) lycos.com" (Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Paperback)

If you've seen The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, you've only experience a fraction of the mischief Baron Munchausen got up to.

Beginning with an endorsement by Sinbad, Aladdin, and Gulliver notarized by the the Lord Mayor's porter, the Baron's adventures begin gently and pick up speed. The chapters are of an excellent length for a bedtime story, and weave together whimsy and vivid images. Fending off a lion and a crocodile at the same time (choking the croc with the lion), travelling by balloon over Turkey and Egypt, escaping beheading, travelling to the moon and back, mixing it up with the Sphynx, and meeting lovely ladies at every turn.

Brilliant, visionary, fun, ridiculous, with only a gentle touch of irony. A distinct improvement over the sullen irony that dominates the arts today. The Baron and the author are passionate and irreverent, and represent a high point in English literature.

Surrealism, fantasy, science fiction, and a host of artists of every stripe can trace their inspirations back to this magnificent work of imagination.

E. M. Van Court