Babar the elephant
Babar the elephant is the hero of a series of children's books . It appears for the first time in Jean de Brunhoff's book L'Histoire de Babar from 1931 (published in German as Die Geschichte von Babar, the little elephant ). It is based on a story that Jean de Brunhoff's wife Cécile thought up for her children. At least the name of the title character was inspired by the trained elephant Baba , who was presented as the "feasting elephant" at European fairs in the first half of the 19th century.
By his death in 1937, de Brunhoff published seven Babar stories. After that, his son Laurent continued the series. The stories inspired several television and animated series, as well as cartoons.
The story of Babar, the little elephant
After his mother is murdered by hunters, Babar ends up in a town. There an old woman takes him under her wing and raises him like a human child. As a young man he returns to the jungle. Since the old king of the elephants died of mushroom poisoning, Babar takes his place. He makes his cousin Celeste queen. He founds the city of Celesteville, where the elephants live on the model of human civilization.
Important people are the monkey Zephyr, Babar's adviser Cornelius and Pompadour, his cousin Arthur and his children Flora, Pom and Alexander. The old lady comes to Celesteville too. Babar's opponent is Rataxes, king of the warlike rhinos.
criticism
On the part of the broadcaster Free Berlin it was said: The Babar stories are classics. Jean de Brunhoff can capture moods in an inimitable way with just a few strokes or animate everyday places unmistakably. Ingenious ideas, skill, intelligence and imagination, patience and confidence, these are the good spirits with which Babar and his friends master life in an exemplary manner for all children.
The books can also be interpreted as a justification for colonialism . Herbert R. Kohl and Vivian Paley viewed them as morally questionable. Ariel Dorfman saw the independence of the elephant land as an anticipation of the development of colonialism.
Books
Jean de Brunhoff and his son Laurent wrote and illustrated the following Babar books:
Jean de Brunhoff:
- Histoire de Babar (1931) - German title: The story of Babar, the little elephant
- Le Voyage de Babar (1932) - German title: Babar on trips
- Le Roi Babar (1933) - German title: King Babar
- L'ABC de Babar (1934) - German title: Babars ABC
- Les vacances de Zéphir (1936) - German title: Zephir makes vacation
- Babar en famille (1938) - German title: Family Babar
- Babar et le père Noël (1941) - German title: Babar and Santa Claus
Laurent de Brunhoff:
- Babar et ce coquin d'Arthur (1948)
- Pique-nique chez Babar (1949)
- Babar dans l'Île aux oiseaux (1952)
- La fête à Célesteville (1954)
- Babar et le professeur Grifaton (1956)
- Le château de Babar (1961)
- Je parle anglais avec Babar (1963)
- Je parle allemand avec Babar (1966)
- Je parle espagnol avec Babar (1966)
- Babar à New York (1966)
Settings
The story of the first Babar book was set to music by Francis Poulenc . First, between 1940 and 1945, a version for narrator and piano was created. It was not until 1959 that the piece was orchestrated by Jean Françaix .
The story of Babar's second book, Babar auf Reise (Le Voyage de Babar, The Travels of Babar, etc.) was set to music by Raphael Mostel , and is originally for narrator, clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone, viola, cello, piano and Drums designed. An orchestral version is in preparation.
Film adaptations
TV Shows
- Babar the little elephant (1969–1970)
- Babar the Elephant King (1989-1994)
- Babar and the Adventures of Badou (2010-2011)
Movies
- Babar the Movie (1989)
- Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
Individual evidence
- ^ Kyle Gann: Making Bowls Sing And Elephants Talk . New York Times. June 10, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ↑ Allan Kozinn : Little Ears And Big Elephants . New York Times. June 20, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2015.