I’m delighted to announce that Preposterous Press has released its first book. It is a new, unabridged translation of Winnetou, the wild-west classic written by Karl May. (To be more specific, since there is a trilogy of Winnetou books, I should say that this is a translation of the first book, Winnetou I.)
This story of the American southwest, written by Karl May and published in 1892, was Germany’s biggest seller ever—the Harry Potter of its time. Still exciting and fun to read, it is the classic tale of the friendship between Charlie (fresh off the boat from Germany and seeking his fortune in America) and Winnetou (the proud and noble son of an Apache chief). Their first encounters are stormy, but they become blood-brothers. Through a series of hair-raising adventures, they overcome all odds to vanquish the bad guys (both whites and Indians).
Unlike most of the English versions of Winnetou that you will find on Amazon, which are abridgements or retellings, this is an unabridged translation that is faithful to the original Karl May text.
Winnetou, and the many books that followed, kindled the German love affair with the idea of the American frontier, an attachment which continues to this day. Karl May’s books continue to be read, and elaborate outdoor re-enactments of the Winnetou story are staged at various locations around Germany every summer.
I did the translation myself, and it has been a long time in the making. I began it as a hobby back in 2001. I put it on the shelf several times when I got busy with other work, but a few months ago (April 2008) I decided to make a hard push to get it done, and it is now (September 2008) available on Amazon.
If you think you might be interested in a copy, here is the link to the Amazon page:
Winnetou on Amazon
