Two new books coming on the film and stage history of Karl May

Karl-May-Verlag announces "Karl May auf der buhne" (Karl May on Stage) (Volume I) and "100 years of Karl May in the cinema".

Karl May & Co.
5/12/2020

  Cover picture for the first volume of the new stage book project "Karl May auf der buhne" ("Karl May on stage")

Cover picture "100 jahre Karl May in Kino" ("100 years Karl May in the cinema")

In the autumn of 2020, two new books for friends of the Karl May theaters and films will be published by Karl-May-Verlag.

It has been 21 years since the authors Reinhard Marheinecke and Nicolas Finke published their work “Karl May am Kalkberg” in the Karl-May-Verlag (KMV) on the history of the Segeberg Festival. 2001 and 2004 were followed by continuation of brochures from the same publisher, 2008 from Marheinecke-Verlag an illustrated book on Bad Segeberg in the 1980s. Now, again in the KMV, a new project is coming: "Karl May on Stage". “The idea came about 20 years ago on Reinhard Marheinecke's terrace in Hamburg. After Reinhard and I spent a few years playing on different playgrounds, the project should finally become a reality,” says Nicolas Finke. Three volumes in A4 format are planned, similar to the "Pierre-Brice-Edition" currently also appearing in the KMV. "We want to do justice to the phenomenon of 'Karl May on stage' by devoting ourselves to all the well-known festivals and productions, some in more detail, such as the long-running favorites Bad Segeberg, Rathen and Elspe. We also want to set thematic priorities - such as on the 'hall productions' - and occasionally add interviews,” says Finke. Marheinecke adds: “The number of performances since Karl May's death has been huge. We have been researching for many years and have come across a lot of news. For example, we are clearing up the widespread misconception that the world's first Karl May open-air theater was performed in Rathen, and we are also addressing productions that hardly anyone or no one knew about, including a festival in the field in 1913 Ukraine today,” says Marheinecke, who will also be publishing another of his Winnetou novels in the Bamberg publishing house in autumn, after the first title “Scorpio and Rattlesnake” published by KMV was a complete success. The first volume of the new stage book project is devoted to early productions in the first half of the 20th century and the success of open-air stages from Rathen to Ratingen to Bad Segeberg (approx. 400 pages with numerous color and black and white illustrations, hardcover, ISBN 978-3-7802-0143- 0, 39 euros, in Austria: 40.10 euros).

The publishing house also publishes the volume “100 Years of Karl May in the Cinema” in the classic film picture format, the author is Stefan von der Heiden,  a member of the Karl May (Film) Fan Group Berlin and author of KARL MAY & Co. Already in 1920 the first film after Karl May in the cinemas, and until today more than 25 strips with May-oriented adventures have been brought to the screen, more than any other German author. On 200 pages many previously unseen motifs can be seen, including shooting photos, documents advertising material and of course scenes from the respective films. The volume will cost 29 euros (Austria: 29.80 euros), the ISBN is 978-3-7802-3089-8.

For the first time, we are showing the two cover pictures that the graphic artist Torsten Greis, who is known in Karl May circles, designed.

Both new releases can now be pre-ordered in the Karl-May-Verlag shop.