Last week I set forth a challenge to guess the title of a book I just read.
NOTE!
If you MISSED that post, and want to participate, STOP READING.
Instead, follow this link to the challenge post: “Guess the Book Title”
Kudos to any of you game lovers who used the clues and attempted to figure out the title of the book!
One Last Chance!
Here are some MORE CLUES (and the answer is at the BOTTOM)…
The story is about TWIN SISTERS. One lives in Munich, the other in Vienna.
They are separated, each growing up with a different parent.
They meet at SUMMER CAMP.
The author originally envisioned it as a film.
The book was first published in 1949 in book form by German author Erich Kastner.
There were 17 film adaptations between 1950 and 2022!
…And one of those film adaptations produced this audio , and this video .
REVEAL!
The name of the book is … (drum roll)…
Lottie and Lisa
by Erich Kastner
You can read the 1962 Puffin Books England version of Lottie and Lisa FREE on Internet Archive, here , …or here.
You can buy the book from the usual places: Amazon, Thriftbooks, Abe Books, eBay, even Walmart and Target.
The complete plot, and chapter by chapter descriptions are at this Wiki link.
This book had various book titles at various times
Original German title: 1949 Das doppelte Lottchen, literal translation: The Double Lottie ;
Published in English in 1962 as Lottie and Lisa ;
Published in English in 1969 as Lisa and Lottie ;
Published in English in 2014 as The Parent Trap .
Discovering this little German book
While watching the Bonus Features on my DVD of “The Parent Trap”, Walt Disney explained that it was inspired by the German book, Lottie and Lisa. As I am half-German, this was very exciting! I found it easily for free online. What a little gem!
About the 1950 film “Two Times Lottie”
Here is information on the 1950 film “Two Times Lottie”
A faithful adaptation of the book compared to Disney’s better known version released eleven years later
Davidson, John & Hake, Sabine. Framing the Fifties: Cinema in a Divided Germany. Berghahn Books, 2007
Poster for the 1950 West German comedy film Two Times Lotte
Interesting story of how the screenplay came first, during World War II
The book originates from a film scenario Erich Kästner developed during World War II that was never produced.
In 1942, when he was briefly allowed by the Nazi authorities to work as a screenwriter, he proposed the plot to Josef von Báky, under the title The Great Secret, but the Nazis once again forbade him to work.
After the war, Kästner wrote his idea into the book, Das doppelte Lottchen (c)1949 (translated “The Double Lottie” in English), which was illustrated by Walter Trier.
A lesson: we can’t take our liberties for granted
Here is information about German author Erich Kastner , a must-read, and a good lesson about holding our liberty as sacred.
This is a great article about Erich Kastner’s books and biography.
Thirty of Erich Kastner’s books are listed here on GoodReads.
About Kastner’s book Emil and the Detective
“Books of Berlin” has created a delightful 1 minute narrated video showcasing the artwork from Erich Kastner’s 1929 book, Emil and the Detective.
Here, you can watch the trailer for the 1964 Disney movie “Emil and the Detective,” based on Erich Kastner’s book.
Excellence endures!
The many contemporary works based upon Kastner’s work are a testimony to their excellence. I’m glad we still have quality options for reading and entertainment!
Here’s hoping that more quality books from around the world will be brought to light!
Thanks for reading!!
