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Das Hildebrandslied - January 18th

Professor Dr.  Barsch arrange for a student guide Annika to accompany us to view some of the oldest manuscripts in Kassel at the Library. The jewel for us was the first scholarly edition produced by the Brothers Grimm (1812) in pride of place next to the two pieces of famous manuscript, The Lay of Hildebrand (800).  A heroic lay that is one of the earliest  literacy work in German written in Old High German alliterative verse. It tells of the tragic encounter in battle between a son and the father he does not recognise. It is written on the first and last pages of a theological manuscript.  
There was also an early Gutenburg Bible which was amazing. I think what we have that is comparable in Australia. Annika Berressem, a student at Kassel University offered to be our guide 
and with our friend Thomas translated much of the notes beside the rare books.

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