1930’s, Der Struwwelpeter, Heinrich Hoffmann, A. Anton Verlag Leipzig

Heinrich Hoffmann (June 13, 1809 – September 20, 1894) was a German psychiatrist, who also wrote some short works including Der Struwwelpeter an illustrated book portraying children misbehaving.

Hoffmann published poems and a satirical comedy before, in 1845, a publisher friend persuaded him to have a collection of illustrated children’s verses printed, which Hoffmann had done as a Christmas present for his son. The book, later called Struwwelpeter after one of its anti-heroes, became popular with the public and had to be reprinted regularly; many foreign translations followed. Struwwelpeter was not perceived as cruel or overly moral by Hoffmann’s contemporaries. The original title, “Funny stories and droll pictures”, indicates that entertainment was at least partly the author’s intention.

After the book’s success, Hoffmann felt persuaded to write other children’s books, of which only the first, König Nussknacker und der arme Reinhold, became popular. He also kept on writing satires and (often comic) poems for adults. His satires show his strong skepticism towards all kinds of ideology and his distaste for religious, philosophical, or political bigotry. Even in Germany, he is today largely remembered for his Struwwelpeter.

Der Struwwelpeter (“Shock-Headed Peter”) comprises ten illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children. Each cautionary tale has a clear moral lesson that demonstrates the disastrous consequences of misbehaviour in an exaggerated way. The title of the first story provides the title of the whole book. Der Struwwelpeter is one of the earliest books for children that combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, and is considered a precursor to comic books.