
ADELBERTO DE CHAMISSO
A wandering tale follows a curious man who wakes up one morning to discover that his shadow has vanished. As he journeys through bustling cities and remote villages, he meets strangers whose lives echo his own loss, each confronting the strange freedom and isolation that come with an absent shade. The narrative blends whimsical encounters with thoughtful reflections on identity, belonging, and the invisible bonds that tie people together.
Beyond the adventure, the story offers a glimpse into the life of its 19th‑century creator—a multilingual scholar, poet, and naturalist whose own restless spirit fuels the protagonist’s wanderings. Richly layered with subtle humor and gentle melancholy, the work invites listeners to ponder how much of ourselves we carry outward, and what remains when even the faintest silhouette fades away.
Language
eo
Duration
~2 hours (121K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Andrew Sly, Miroslav Malovec and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2020-12-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1781–1838
A French-born writer who made his life in Prussia, he is best remembered for the haunting tale Peter Schlemihl, about a man who sells his shadow. He was also a serious botanist, and that mix of imagination and observation gives his work a distinctive charm.
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