Junker Nils von Eka

Junker Nils von Eka , do you hear the cuckoo too ? ( Swedish Junker Nils av Eka ) is a fairy tale by Astrid Lindgren .

action

Junker Nils von Eka is about a boy named Nils who is very sick. He is seriously ill in a bed in the Kate of his parents, which is also called Eka. His family believes he will die soon. Outside the cuckoo, which according to popular belief, announces a death. Nils looks at the blind on which a knight's castle can be seen. He really wants to see the knight's castle, and he's so tired that he wants to sleep.

Nils suddenly finds himself in front of the knight's castle. There he is the king's squire, Junker Nils von Eka. In the knight's castle, the king is held captive in the west tower. Only Nils can help. He frees the king and the two flee together. When the two threaten to be captured, Nils pretends to be the king. He is captured and killed. The king, however, lives on and rides with a large army to his adversary and can defeat him.

Meanwhile, in the Kate Nils wakes up. He is cured and can go into the forest with his siblings.

Publications

The Swedish story Junker Nils av Eka first appeared in the Sunnanäng fairy tale collection (German: Sounds my linden tree ). However, it was only found in some editions of the book, not all. The story can also be found in the fairy tale collection Salikons rosor from 1967.

In Germany the publication of the story was delayed. Astrid Lindgren reported in an exchange of letters with Louise Hartung that Friedrich Oetinger did not consider the story suitable for German children. He did not want to include them in the first edition of the book Sounds My Linden Tree. The sacrifice of the Junker Nils von Eka for his King Magnus would, in his opinion, awaken narcissistic thoughts in young people. The correspondence is in the book I Lived Too! to read.

In Germany, the story appeared under the title Do you hear the cuckoo? for the first time in 1976 in the book Tell me what - The great story book for children of the winners of the international Hans Christian Andersen Prize - Tell me a lot . As Junker Nils von Eka , the story was first published in 1990 in the new edition of the book Klingt meine Linde . The story was released as an audio book on cassette in October 1992. The 55-minute audio book was read by Manfred Steffen .

In 2007 the story was also published as a picture book in Sweden. The edition was illustrated with watercolors by Leif Ruhnström . Leif Ruhnström also wrote an afterword for the book about the story and how he designed the pictures in close connection with the text. The story was published by the Swedish publisher Boa på Näs . This edition has not yet been published in Germany.

In the Netherlands, the book was published in 1985 as a single book under the title Ridder Niels van Eka by the publisher Ploegsma BV. This edition was illustrated by the Dutch Gitte Spee .

Children's operas

Astrid Lindgren's story has been rewritten into an opera by various composers in Sweden.

Inger Wikström (1983)

In 1982 Inger Wikström composed a family opera for the book and released it as a vinyl LP in 1983. The record was published by Art Music AB and consisted of 22 pieces.

Contributors

• Text: Astrid Lindgren
• Junker Nils: Stefan Roos
• Hertigen: Björn Ohlsson
• Margareta: Margareta Nelvig
• King: John Öhd
• Modern: Maud Tretom
• Sångare / Måns: Per Björsund
• Spinet: Stina Backlund
• Cello: Gunnar Jönsson
• Guitar, lute [Renaissance], flute, jaw harp: Mats-Göran Nilsson
• Alto recorder, recorder [soprano], recorder [sopranino], Crumhorn: Margareta Nelvig

Kim Hedås (2002)

Kim Hedås composed another children's opera . The opera was written for seven singers and five musicians. It was performed at the Swedish Opera House Göteborgsoperan . The opera premiered there on February 2, 2002. Urban Lindh directed the film. Instrumentally, the opera was dominated by the harp and vibraphone.

Georg Riedel (2007)

Georg Riedel composed another opera in 2007. On Astrid Lindgren's 100th birthday, on November 14, 2007, the piece was performed by Sörmlands Musik & Teater in Astrid Lindgren's old home, Näs . The picture book with the illustrations by Leif Ruhnström was published on that very day.

Play

The fairy tale was rewritten into a play by Mats Huddén . In 2014 it was performed as a music and narrative theater piece at Musikens Hus in Gothenburg . Eva Löfman Törnqvist was responsible for the processing and dramatization. The piece was composed by Hannu Kella and Hans Kennemark.

reception

Eva Wahlström from the Swedish daily Borås Tidning explains that the story is about love and a sacrifice made out of love, about how that sacrifice leads to victory and how the imagination can heal. History has many mythical and symbolic dimensions. She believes the story is a precursor to Astrid Lindgren's later story, The Lionheart Brothers .

Arga Anna thinks that Junker Nils von Eka is Astrid Lindgren's favorite book. She finds it entertaining for both children and adults.

literature

• Sten Wistrand: Astrid Lindgren's “mest problematiska bok”. Ontologi, genre och Funktion i Sunnanäng , article from a Swedish literary magazine with a detailed interpretation of the story, published by the University of Uppsala .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Junker Nils av Eka. .
2. ^ ^{A b} Astrid Lindgren - Junker Nils av Eka .
3. ↑ Junker Nils von Eka. .
4. ↑ Junker Nils von Eka, 1 cassette: Narrator: Manfred Steffen. 55 min .
5. ^ Audiobook "Junker Nils von Eka" by Astrid Lindgren. .
6. ↑ Junker Nils av Eka av Astrid Lindgren. .
7. ↑ ^{a b} En föregångare till Lejonhjärta. .
8. ↑ Ingeborg Kroon: Zweedse en Zweedstalige Finse auteurs in Nederlandse vertaling 1491-2007. A bibliography / Svenska och finlandssvenska författare i nederländsk översättning 1491-2007. En bibliografi , Barkhuis, 2014, ISBN 9789492444448 limited preview in Google book search
9. ^ Junker Nils av Eka: Familjeopera op.14. .
10. ^ Astrid Lindgren / Inger Wikström - Junker Nils Av Eka. .
11. ^ Junker Nils av Eka (2002). .
12. ↑ Kim Hedås. .
13. ↑ Januaripanelen ser Junker Nils av Eka. .
14. ↑ Astrid Junker Nils i valstakt. .
15. ↑ Svårsmält lindgrensk moral. .
16. ^ Junker Nils av Eka: Sörmlands musik och teater. .
17. ↑ Fira Astrid on November 14th. .
18. ↑ Astrid 100 AR the 14 november 2007 .
19. ↑ JUNKER NILS AV EKA - Nordiska - international performing rights agency .
20. ↑ SIMSALABIM musik- och berättarteaterpresenterar. JUNKER NILS AV EKAav Astrid Lindgren. .
21. ↑ En berättarföreställning utöver det vanliga. .
22. ↑ Junker Nils av Eka. .