Winnetou

Winnetou is the American-Indian hero of several novels written by Karl May (the best selling German writer of all time), in German language including the sequel Winnetou I to Winnetou III. According to Karl May's story, first-person-narrator Old Shatterhand encounters Winnetou and, after initial dramatic events, a true friendship among Old Shatterhand and the Apache Winnetou arises; on many occasions they give proof of great fighting skill but also of compassion for other human beings.

Related Topics:
Karl May - German - Writer - German language - Old Shatterhand - Apache

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Winnetou became the fictional chief of the tribe of the Mescalero-Apaches after his father Intschu-tschuna (and his sister Nscho-tschi) was slain by the white bandit Santer. He rode a horse called Iltschi (that is "Wind") and had a famous rifle called "Silberbüchse" (that is "The Silver Gun", a double barrel rifle whose stock and butt were decorated with silver studs). Old Shatterhand became the bloodbrother of Winnetou and rode the brother of Iltschi, called Hatatitla (that is "Lightning"). In the last book of the trilogy Winnetou himself was murdered by the bandit Santer.

Related Topics:
Mescalero-Apaches - Intschu-tschuna - Nscho-tschi - Iltschi - Hatatitla

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Karl May's "Winnetou" novels symbolize, to some extent, a romantic desire for a simpler life in close contact with nature, and a belief in an innate "goodness" of mankind, albeit constantly threatened by ill-intentioned enemies. The sequel has become the origin of festivals (the "Karl-May-Festspiele" or "Karl-May-Spiele", first initiated in Bad Segeberg, Germany, and then expanded to further places like Lennestadt-Elspe) in honor of Karl May or, rather, of his Apache hero, Winnetou.

Related Topics:
Bad Segeberg - Germany - Lennestadt-Elspe

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