The Diver Series: Poetry for Children Title: The Diver Author: Friedrich Schiller Artist: Willi Glasauer Extent: 32 pp, 4/c throughout Format: 210 x 280 mm Pub. price: EUR 15,50 Pub. date: Spring 2009 German ISBN: 978-3-934029-33-0 Ages: 7 and up

Material available: German review copy

THE STORY:

„The Diver“, one of Friedrich Schiller`s most famous and gripping ballads, is a lesson in bravery and tempting fate. After some hesitation, a young knight accepts the royal challnge, dives into a raging sea and retrieves a golden mug thrown there by the king. But then the king challenges the knight once more by promising him the hand of his lovely daughter, if again he successfully retrieves the mug from the most dangerous waters. And the knight jumps temting fate a second time. It may have been one time to many...

With his impressive illustraions of the roaring waters Willi Glasauer sets the dramatic scene for this ballad full of suspense.

THE AUTHOR:

Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) was one of Germany´s greatest playwrights. However, originally, Schiller wanted to become vicar but was made to study law and medicine instead. His life as a free author was full of depriviations, causing him serious health problems. During the last years of his life he was greatly inspired by his friendship with Goethe.

THE ARTIST:

Willi Glasauer, born in 1938, works as a free artist for television programmes, various magazines and both for French and German publishing houses. His main focus lays on book illustrations. During summertime Willi Glasauer lives in the Pyrenees, while in winter he works in Berlin.