In the latest instalment of our „What\u2019s that for?“ series, we would like to tell you about the sublime linguistic experiment of Johann Fischart, which added the word „Geschichtsklitterung“ („pseudo history“) to the German language.<\/strong><\/p>\n An attempt to translate Fran\u00e7ois Rabelais\u2019 1533 novel „The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel“ into German culminated in 1575 with a sublime linguistic experiment: „Affenteurliche und Ungeheurliche Geschichtschrift“ by Johann Fischart (1546\/47\u20131591). Never before had a translator attempted anything comparable in the German language; prior to Fischart, nobody had produced such a vivid and eloquent novel. Second only to Martin Luther, the Early New High German author stands out on account of the many new German words he coined. The work, whose title was changed to „Affentheurlich Naupengeheurliche Geschichtklitterung“ in 1582, is \u2013 by virtue of its experimental language \u2013 often described as the „Finnegans Wake“ of the 16th century. This is the first time that the word „Geschichtsklitterung“ appears.<\/p>\n Apart from the experimental style of the translation, Rabelais\u2019 satirical knightly romance that Fischart used as his source text is also noted for its unusual content. The „Abbey of Th\u00e9l\u00e8me“ described in the book is an unorthodox world in which young men and women live together, celebrate festivals and converse whilst playing. The monastic rule comprises just a single sentence: „Fay ce que vouldras“ („Do what you want“). Alongside the irony of the text, which decries the vices of the period, particularly alcoholism , the description of the „Abbey of Th\u00e9l\u00e8me“ is an early example of a utopian society.<\/p>\nA tome with its own story<\/h2>\n