Saint Nicholas in Need

St. Nicholas in need ( nl. : De nood van Sinter Klaas ) is an approximately 12-page short story by the Flemish author Felix Timmermans . It first appeared in 1924.

content

Sankt Nikolaus (in the original: Sinter-Klaas ) is quiet and secret, accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht ( Zwarte Pit ), at the annual distribution of sweets to good children. After all the sweets have been distributed, he notices that “the most well-behaved child in the world” Cäcilie (Ceciliatje) has not yet received anything. With a lot of effort and with the help of a few other figures, the confectionery dealer Trinchen Mutser (Trientje Mutser) is brought to hand over the magnificent chocolate ship in her display, for which the night watchman will only pay her 25 francs (5 francs above the actual price) the following day. Cäcilie is thus granted her greatest wish.

History of origin

The story is preceded by a dedication stating that Timmermans made it to Mr. Mil. Broes wrote, who wanted so much to read a story about St. Nicholas.

Translations

The story has been translated into many languages ​​and has numerous editions, especially in the German-speaking area. The German translation is by Anna Valeton-Hoos .

expenditure

• Felix Timmermans: St. Nicholas in Need. Stalling, Oldenburg 1926, DNB 362892431 (German-language first edition).
• Felix Timmermans: Sankt Nikolaus in Not (= Insel-Taschenbuch 4178). Insel, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-458-35878-7 (current edition).

Audio book

• Felix Timmermans: Sankt Nikolaus in Not / The Triptych of the Three Kings , read by Hans Jochim Schmidt. Music: Jörg Uwe Andrees. 2 audio CDs, 82 minutes, reader Schmidt Hörbuchverlag , Schwerin 2004, ISBN 3-937976-25-6 .

Radio plays

• 1950: St. Nikolaus in Not - Production: Radio Bremen - Arrangement: Oskar Wessel ; Director: Günter Siebert , with Trudik Daniel (Mrs. Trinchen), Hanns Stein (St. Nikolaus), Ernst Rottluff (Knecht Ruprecht)
• 1950: St. Nikolaus in Not - Production: NWDR Cologne - Editing: Kurt Meister ; Direction: Eduard Hermann , with Max Gaede (St. Nikolaus), Peter Paul (Knecht Ruprecht), Käthe Habel-Reimers (Trinchen), Heidi von Strombeck (Cäcilie), Hansi Kessler (Mrs. Dr. Vaes)
• 1957: The Chocolate Ship or Saint Nicholas in Need - Production: Radio Bremen - Editing: Heinrich Schmidt-Barrien ; Director: Hannes Krüger , with Günter Siebert (poet Remoldos Keersmaeckers), Deli-Maria Teichen (Trienchen Mutser), Eva Wessels (Die kleine Cäcilie), Eberhard von Gagern (Sankt Nikolaus)
• 2001: Santa Claus in need or everything goes better with music - Production: NDR - Adaptation and direction: Armin Diebrichsen and Jochem Wolff , with Herma Koehn , Nina Schmidt-Carstens , Klaus Dittmann , Peter Kaempfe

Film adaptations

• 1967: St. Nikolaus in Not - Augsburger Puppenkiste , production: Sender Bozen - editing: Walter Oehmichen , picture direction: Vittorio Brignole, set design: Carlo Schellemann, music: Bernhard Stimmler (28 minutes; black and white)