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I just came across a First American Edition of Vampire by Hanns Heinz Ewers published in 1934 by John Day and translated by F. Salagar. I’m wondering if you know what its worth?
Thanks,
deb
If the edition is in good shape with a good dust cover it is probably worth $300 or $400. That is just a guess on my part. Please be aware that I am currently doing a new translation of Vampire that many people are waiting for. The edition that you are talking about was very poorly translated and censored. The best guess is that over 100 pages will be greatly affected.
When my translation comes out sometime next year only hard core collectors will be interested in the one you refer to.
good luck!
-joe
I have been reading in the area of German decolonialization and religion and was wondering if Ewers ever published a literary work on or about Jesus or Christianity.
That is a very interesting question and does not have a simple answer. His family roots were protestant, probably Lutheran, but his mother was a diabolist whatever that means and he wrote the short story “My Mother The Witch”.
In his Frank Braun novels Frank Braun appears as a former Catholic turned satanist. Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Alraune and Vampire all show great insight into the religious and mystical practices of the Catholic church and vivid descriptions of religious ecstasy experiences. This includes great familiarity with the writings of St. Francis of Assisi.
Perhaps the best answer is that it seems he studied and outgrew orthodix christianity through his metaphysical studies in Masonry, Rosicrucianism and Voodoo as well as who knows what else. Cutural Germany at the time was greatly influenced by Neitchze and very atheistic. He tended to write more about psychology than religion. Hope this helps.
-joe
Thank you for the quick reply. This is helpful. If you come across any literary depictions of Jesus in Ewers work please let me know. Best of luck with the translations.
I forgot to mention the dramatic play “Toten Augen” which I have not read yet. It supposedly is about the blind wife of a Roman officer that lived during the time of the crucifixion. “The Dead Eyes” is an opera like play complete with a musical score. Sorry I can’t tell you much about it yet.
Hello Joe,
I would like to order a hardcover of the Vol 1 of the Ewers collection, but the links only give a paperback option. Is there another link to obtain the hardcover version?
Thanks!
Hi Frank,
Here is a link to a hardcover edition of Hanns Heinz Ewers Volume I.
I took it down because I am going to eventually go with hard cover books with dust covers instead of the simple glossy hard cover. Still might be some time away since I have absolutely no time right now to get at it.
Hi Sir,
A question (I think you’re the only one that can actually help me)…I`d love to make a film adaptation of one of Ewers’ short stories. The idea would be to be faithful to the general aspects of the plot, making necessary changes for the story to work as a cinematic piece. The project would be a student short film…do you know if there would be any legal issues if I freely adapt a story? if the project is non-profit? do I need any authorization? Please help me before I start writing!!!
Thanks!!!!!
Oscar
This is a tricky issue regarding copyrights. Dr. Kugel owns and administers the Hanns Heinz Ewers copyright. Now this is what I understand, but realize that I continue to work with the estate. In the United States anything published prior to 1923 by anyone is considered to be in the public domain. This means it can be published in the United States but not neccessarily Europe or where those right may still be protected. Internet publishing is an open problem that usually resolves to the publisher’s home country. In Germany the copyright goes into the public domain 70 years after the death of the author, thus, Hanns Heinz Ewers died in 1943 so that material enters the public domain in Europe in 2013. However, in the United States the copyrights of material published after 1923 have been extended to 90 after the death of the author. Thus material by Hanns Heinz Ewers written and published after 1923 are still under copyright protection in the United State and will be for twenty more years, even though the European copyright protection has expired.
Now as for my own translation work, I will continue to own my translations until 90 years after my death, and this would include works derived from my translations. So if your work was based on one of my translations you would need to talk to me, if it was based on someone else’s translation it would depend on the circumstances. I”m sure this is all clear as mud, but the best I can do! Good luck!
-joe
hi there
i have a friend working on her thesis and desperately needs to lay her hands on a copy of vampire by ewers- and suggestions<' she is a student so a high price is problematic. i see that last year you thought your translation may be available now<? thanks
Thaks for your comment. Regretably my tanslation of Vampire won’t be out until next spring. There have been many changes of plan this past year and real life has intruded on my hobby of translation work. My own translation of Sorcerer’s Apprentice will be out by the end of August. I just need to finish the edits, but of course that does not help you.
I have used the interlibrary loan program to locate and borrow a copy of Vampire to read in the existing English version so that is what I would suggest for now. Once you get the copy through interlibrary loan you could copy each page on a copy machine. Not the best solution but one to consider. Be advised that there was extensive censorship of Vampire and bad translation work as well.
Your friend may contact me personally at joebandel@hotmail.com and ask for more information. I could probably make the first half of the book available if I knew more about this thesis.
Best of luck,
-joe