The Artful Hussar

Satire, Humor and Irony in some cases have been regarded as the most effective source to understand a society, the oldest form of social study. Johann Peter Hebel (1760-1826) was one of the greatest story-tellers in the history of German literature. The anecdotes and curiosities have endeared him to generations of readers in Germany and have won him many distinguished admirers further afield, including Tolstoy and Kafka, who habitually carried a copy of Hebel stories in his pocket. Hebel was a robust, humorous, humane and eminently sane personality whose sympathies lay with the little man and woman, whilst always being ready to recognize justice and generosity in those in power and authority. He wrote in a style close to ordinary speech and his voice carries without effort over the intervening years.