Simplicius Simplicissimus (1668) is a semi-autobiographical and picaresque novel written by German author Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmeslhausen.
The novel follows in the style of Spanish picaresque novels, which are defined largely by their lower-class, roguish, and often darkly appealing heroes as they expose the corrupt nature of society through their courage and cunning. The novel follows the titular Simplicius, a wanderer who is so simple that he does even know his own name, leading to his acquiring the now-famous moniker. Simplicius roams the chaotic landscape brought on by the Thirty Year's War, learning about the nature of the world from different teachers and pursuits. After his family is killed, he is taken in by a hermit before being conscripted to fight for the Imperial Army upon the hermit's death. Combat, as it so often does, acts as a means of advancement for the young Simplicius and leads him towards a life of bourgeois decadence. In the end, he resolves to become a hermit himself, convinced the evils of the world were widespread and root deep.
Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.
With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.