In the preface to the new French translation (which appeared in 1838) of this story, Chamisso amuses himself in his own peculiar way, over the prying curiosity of those who want to know what his real object was in writing this tale:  —­“The present story,” he says, “has fallen into the hands of thoughtful people, who, being accustomed to read only for instruction’s sake, have been at a loss to know what the shadow signifies.  On this point several have formed curious hypotheses; others, who do me the honour to believe that I am more learned than I really am, have addressed themselves to me for the solution of their doubts.  The questions with which they have besieged me have made me blush on account of my ignorance.  I have therefore been induced to devote myself to the investigation of a matter not hitherto the subject of my studies; and I now beg to submit to the world the result of my learned researches.

“’Concerning Shadows.—­A dark body can only be partially illuminated by a bright one.  The dark space which lies in the direction of the unilluminated part is what we call a shadow.  Properly speaking, shadow signifies a bodily space, the form of which depends upon the form of the illuminating body, and upon their opposite position with regard to each other.  The shadow thrown on a surface, situated before the shadow-projecting body, is, therefore, nothing else than the intersection of this surface by the bodily space (in French, le solide, on which word solid the whole force of the humour turns), which we before designated by the word shadow.’

“The question in this wonderful history of Peter Schlemihl relates entirely to the last-mentioned quality, solidity.  The science of finance instructs us sufficiently as to the value of money:  the value of a shadow is less generally acknowledged.  My thoughtless friend was covetous of money, of which he knew the value, and forgot to think on solid substance.  It was his wish that the lesson which he had paid for so dearly should be turned to our profit; and his bitter experience calls to us with a loud voice, Think on the solid--the substantial!” So far Chamisso.

“Peter Schlemihl” has been translated into almost all the languages of Europe.  Of the Dutch, Spanish, and Russian translations we do not possess any copies.  The French and Italian are as follows:-

Pierre Schlemihl.  Paris, chez Ladvocat, 1822.—­This was revised by Chamisso in manuscript, who added a preface to it; but the translation was afterwards capriciously altered by the same publisher.

Un Roman du Poete Allemand contemporain, Adelbert de Chamisso; traduit par N. Martin.  Histoire merveilleuse de Pierre Schlemihl.  Dunquerque, 1837.—­At the end the translator has added a letter to a friend, with the Greek motto, “Life is the dream of a shadow.”  The translator, while laughing in this letter at the Germans, who, he says, ought to write three folio volumes of explanatory