Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kästner
"Emil and the Detectives" is a children's novel by Erich Kästner, first published in the late 1920s, that centers on the adventures of a young boy named Emil Tischbein. Tasked with delivering money to his grandmother in Berlin, Emil's trip quickly transforms into a thrilling escapade when a thief steals his money on the train. Rather than seeking adult assistance, Emil courageously decides to pursue the criminal himself, showcasing his resourcefulness and maturity beyond his years. As he navigates through the bustling city, he is joined by a group of local children, who help him in his quest to apprehend the thief.
The story challenges traditional views of childhood, emphasizing the capability and responsibility of children, especially in a time and culture that often suppressed their voices. Kästner’s narrative also subtly critiques the prevailing authoritarian attitudes of the period, hinting at democratic principles through the cooperative efforts of the young detectives. The novel has been widely translated and adapted into films, contributing to its enduring popularity. Emil's journey not only highlights the adventure of solving a crime but also reinforces trust in children's judgment, inviting readers to reconsider their perceptions of youth agency.
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Subject Terms
Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kästner
First published:Emil und die Detektive, 1928 (English translation, 1930); illustrated
Type of work: Adventure tale
Themes: Crime, family, friendship, and social issues
Time of work: The 1920’s
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: Berlin, Germany, and Neustadt, a German provincial town
Principal Characters:
Emil Tischbein , known as a model son, an alert student who is devoted to his motherFrau Tischbein , a widow and owner of a beauty salon in NeustadtHerr Grundeis , aliasMuller , andKiessling , a thief and bank robberEmil’s Grandmother , living in Berlin with her other daughter’s familyPony Hutchen , Emil’s cousin in BerlinGustav , a boy with an automobile horn who joins Emil in the huntThe Professor , a pupil who organizes the posseDienstag , ,Mittenzwey , ,Petzold , ,Krummbiegel , andTraugott , pupils, joined by dozens of others in the chaseKästner , the author, a frustrated writer, helpful stranger, and newspaper reporter in Berlin
The Story
The plot of Emil and the Detectives has all the earmarks of a whodunit, except that the principal actors are young boys who almost single-handedly corner their quarry and thus unwittingly bring a fugitive bank robber to justice.
Emil Tischbein, with his mother’s help, gets ready for a trip to Berlin to visit relatives. Armed with plenty of good advice, a heavy suitcase, and an envelope with 140 marks in support money for his grandmother securely tucked into his suit pocket, he sets out on his trip—soon to turn into a nightmare, then an adventure. In those days, a trip to a big city such as Berlin was a major event in the life of a youngster, even more so if he were entirely on his own and entrusted with responsibility. Early in the story, Kästner shows his protagonist to be mature beyond his age. After a sinister fellow traveler steals Emil’s money on the train when Emil has fallen asleep, he only momentarily panics. Then, undaunted, he plunges into the chase after the culprit.
Kästner hurdles the problem of not having Emil turn to the police for help by using the stratagem of a minor misdeed back home which Emil assumes might have been reported to the Berlin police. It seems that Emil is responsible for some graffiti in his hometown and is afraid of being apprehended, unnecessarily, it turns out. Seeking help from the Berlin police would have diverted the plot development back into the adult world—something Kästner tried to avoid. Emil then spots his man and follows him despite being slowed down by a heavy suitcase.
Kästner next shows that, contrary to commonly held prejudices about the metropolitan jungle with its hurried and uncaring people, genuine concern for Emil’s plight surfaces almost immediately. First, an adult who later in the story is revealed to be Kästner, advances Emil streetcar fare, before other children band together to assist him. This reveals a sophisticated subculture of juvenile resourcefulness to a degree which, at that time, was not generally accepted, given the traditionally strict German upbringing. Could children act responsibly even when entirely removed from adult supervision or parental authority? Kästner points out that parents should trust the good judgment of their children. This is precisely what the youngsters convincingly demonstrate: Children can face an adult challenge and cope with it. Kästner also gives the reader a subtle lesson in democracy: The boys solve conflicts and disagreements democratically, at a time when Nazism was rising in Berlin and elsewhere at an alarming rate.
The adventure of catching a real criminal—better than what they have been seeing in films—is another motivating factor for the youngsters. Even though the ensuing chase involves long hours away from home, Kästner is at pains to point out that all of them keep in touch with their parents who, despite the dangers, show remarkable trust in the honesty, integrity, and good judgment of their children. Rough language also is eschewed, even though the youngsters use Berlin slang.
The pursuit takes the children in and out of perilous encounters which they handle with dispatch, initiative, and ingenuity. Finally, in a dramatic showdown, they confront the thief in a bank just as he is trying to change the stolen money. Emil can prove conclusively that the money is his, and the suspect is delivered into the hands of the law. Overnight, Emil becomes a celebrity and the talk of the town: “Sensational Capture of Bank Robber by Juveniles,” scream headlines in the morning papers. With public acclaim comes a one-thousand-mark reward.
Finally, it is time for Emil to meet his relatives and to deliver his mother’s precious support money. Grandma bakes apple pies and invites all the boys to a party. Back home, Emil’s mother discovers, to her immense relief, that her son is safe and soon leaves to join the excitement in Berlin. On the train ride, she proudly reads the news stories about her son’s exploits several times and bends everyone’s ear about what a wonderful boy he is. At the family reunion, Grandma, in her infinite wisdom, sums up her simplistic moral of the story: Never send cash, always use money orders.
Context
Emil and the Detectives is Kästner’s most successful children’s book. It was translated into several languages, adapted for film, and continues to be widely read today.
One of the reasons for the book’s popularity is its depiction of the resourcefulness and responsibility of children, particularly at a time, the late 1920’s, and in a place, Germany, in which children were subjugated in a patriarchal, authoritarian culture, taught to “be seen but not heard.” Such a depiction of children was rare at that time, and it established Kästner as a respected writer in pre-Nazi Germany—although the rising tide of Nazis feared his sharp pen. By a quirk of fate, however, the Nazi leadership exempted the work from the 1933 book burning, which included all of Kästner’s other critical and satirical writings.
Long before Adolf Hitler came to power, Kästner had mercilessly unmasked the inhumanity of the Nazi movement as a poet and novelist. His protagonists were usually “little people” longing for the good life, a life free from persecution. In addition to other children’s stories, Kästner wrote sequels to Emil and the Detectives: Emile und die drei Zwillinge (1935; Emil and the Three Twins, 1935) and Der 35 Mai (1931; The 35th of May, 1933). From 1942 to the end of World War II, however, he was forbidden to publish altogether because he had secretly authored the script for a film about Baron Munchhausen. After the war, Kästner was accorded long overdue recognition and honors. He continued to publish, although to less critical acclaim, until 1965.