Ballet Shoes

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Ballet Shoes is the most famous work by Mary Noel Streatfeild . The book about the lives of the three orphans Pauline, Petrova and Posy, considered a classic of English children's and youth literature of the 20th century , was first published in 1936. In March 2009, “Ballettschuhe” was published for the first time in German by Carlsen Verlag.

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Ballet Shoes is about the three adopted sisters Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil. Each of them was discovered as a baby by Matthew Brown (called Great Uncle Matthew or Gom), an elderly geologist and professor, during his world travels and sent home to his great niece Sylvia and her nanny Nana.

Gom is preparing a multi-year expedition and is therefore providing the family with funds for five years. However, contrary to what was planned, he has not yet arrived home after the estimated travel time, and the family's funds are running out. As a result, Sylvia and Nana have to take tenants into their house to cover their daily expenses. The close contact with the tenants is useful for the children later on. The tenants are Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, who run a garage, and Dr. Jakes and Dr. Smith, two professors who take over the children's education after Sylvia can no longer pay school fees, and Miss Thea Dane, a dance teacher who gives children the opportunity to learn to dance and practice on stage.

As the children grow up, they begin to develop their own talents and seek activities to financially support the family household. Pauline becomes a popular stage and film actress. Petrova also performs on stage but holds onto her dream of one day flying planes. Posy, although still too young to play on stage by the end of the book, turns out to be an excellent ballet dancer. The three sisters are inspired and inspired by their often repeated saying “to get our names in the history books because it is our own and no one can say that it is because of our grandfathers ”. The book ends while the protagonists are still teenagers and their future is unclear. But it is becoming apparent that they will be successful.

people

  • Gom's great-uncle Matthew Brown, a senior geologist and professor who finds the three sisters during his travels.
  • Sylvia Brown Goms great niece, known to the girls as "Garnie", abbreviation for English. Guardian (German guardian).
  • Nana Alice Gutheridge, Sylvia's nanny and later guardian after Sylvia was orphaned as a child. Called "Nana" by family and friends.
  • Pauline Fossil The oldest sister by two years, rescued from a shipwreck. A talented actress and great beauty.
  • Petrova Fossil The middle sister, adopted by a young Russian couple who died in Russia. Petrova is hard working and meticulous, but only cares about engines, planes, and automobiles.
  • Posy Fossil The youngest sister by two years. Gom had a messenger bring her home as a baby in the basket with a pair of ballet shoes. Her mother, a dancer, may still be alive as it is said, 'she didn't have time for babies'. Posy is considered a child with a great talent for dancing, but at the end of the book she is still too young to appear on stage.
  • Dr. Jakes and Dr. Smith tenant. Two retired professors of literature and mathematics. You offer to teach the children.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Simpson tenants. Mr. Simpson is particularly kind to Petrova because he owns a Citroën car and garage, and Petrova is very interested in them. In the 2007 film adaptation by the BBC, Mrs. Simpson's persona was left out so that Mr. Simpson could serve as Sylvia's love interest.
  • Miss Theo Dane The last tenant. A dance teacher at the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training.
  • Madame Fidolia A retired Russian prima ballerina from the Old Russian Empire. Now head of the “Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training”. She is Posy's teacher and mentor.
  • Winifred A classmate at the Children's Academy. Although portrayed as the best student, she often loses important roles due to her appearance and improper clothing, a result of her family's poverty. Winifred is both friend and rival of Pauline.

Artistic adaptation

Film adaptations

Audio books

The book became a bestseller in both the UK and US soon after its publication. The first radio version for English children's radio was created as early as 1947 . Most recently, the British radio station BBC Radio 4 set up Ballet Shoes for a 140-minute radio play version (1999), which is now available on CD.

Moira Shearer , who was often called "Red Shoes" herself because of her leading role in the ballet film Die rote Schuhe (1948), was selected by a record company in 1979 to read Ballet Shoes for the first audio book version. Streatfeild still worked on this himself. Jan Francis (1987) and Harriet Walter later read the book for cassettes or CDs.

Mary Noel Streatfeild herself had her Ballet Shoes followed by other “Shoes books”, e.g. B. Theater Shoes , Dancing Shoes , Tennis Shoes , Party Shoes or White Boots . A scene in the film Em @ il für Dich (1998) refers to this fact that must appear like a gag to the uninformed audience: Meg Ryan thoughtfully advises a customer in the role of a bookseller: "I would start with Ballet Shoes , that is my favorite book, although Skating Shoes is also wonderful. "

In fact, for many English people, Streatfeild is a favorite childhood writer, especially because of ballet shoes . JK Rowling , who wrote the most successful children's book series of all time, once admitted that she still enjoys reading ballet shoes today .

Awards

  • 1936: Nomination for the Carnegie Medal
  • 1948: Book which should always be in print according to the Library Association
  • 1975: Emmy for Outstanding Childrens Special for the 1975 TV Version
  • 1991: Children's Books of the Year according to the Library of Congress

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ BBC: The 'Shoes' books by Noel Streatfeild , January 22, 2003 (English)

Web links