Unsuccessful in his endeavours the young and naive Peter Schlemihl seals a pact with the Devil
in which he exchanges his shadow for the purse of Fortunatus thereby gaining everlasting
riches. But when he is ridiculed persecuted and hated for being different from other men he
realizes that poverty is easier to bear than the loss of his peace of mind. Originally written
as a cautionary tale for the children of Chamisso's patron Peter Schlemihl was hailed by
contemporaries as a masterpiece with a wide adult appeal and continues to capture imaginations
today.
