Editions

This page gives access to the editions of the three manuscripts of Der Arme Heinrich, with notes and variants. This so called 'visualization for reading' is only offered for the full manuscripts. The fragments, which have been edited as well, can be read either in their presentation in the virtual library or via the synoptic visualization.

The text of manuscript A is the one used as a basis for nearly all modern printed editions. The text of manuscript Ba diverges significantly, especially in the last third. Manuscript Bb is a direct copy of Ba with only minor variants. You will also find translations to the text of the two main manuscritps; they can be read via the synoptical view.

In order to make navigation easier, texts have been divided into 'chapters'. Although we have tried to preserve the narrative units of the texts, our division does not pretend to be a literary assessment.

Edited full texts

A – Text of the lost Strassburg manuscript Cod. A 94, copied in the second quarter of the 14^th century, with Alsatian linguistic traits. The manuscript was burnt in 1870, but in the 18^th and 19^th cenutries different partial copies were made. Der Arme Heinrich was edited twice following this manuscript. Our edition follow the copy made and published by Christoph Heinrich Müller in 1784; the differences with the edition made by the Grimm brothers in 1815 are registered in notes.

Ba – Text of the Heidelberg manuscript Cod. Pal. germ. 341, written probably in the first quarter of the 14^th century. From northwest Bohemia or upper Franconia. Shows in part massive differences with respect to manuscript A.

Bb – Text of the manuscript Cologny, Cod. Bodmer 72, also from the first quarter of the 14^th century and from northwest Bohemia or upper Franconia. This is a direct copy of Bb with only very minor differences.