"Peter Klaus" is a Germanfolk tale. The story was written as "Der Ziegenhirt" ('The Goatherd') byJohann Karl Christoph Nachtigal, who published it in 1800 under the alias Otmar.[1]
The story follows a Germangoatherd from a village named Sittendorf, today part of the townKelbra. While looking for escaped goats, Peter Klaus is led to where others are playing games in the woods. After tasting their wine, he falls asleep and wakes up twenty years later.
"Der Ziegenhirt" has been translated into English a number of times:
"Peter Klaus, the Goatherd" translated byThomas Roscoe forThe German Novelists (1826)
"Peter the Goatherd" translated byEdgar Taylor forGerman Popular Stories volume 2 (1826) – one of only four stories in this book not by theBrothers Grimm
"The Goatherd" translated byGeorge Godfrey Cunningham forForeign Tales and Traditions (1829) – translated viaJohann Gustav Gottlieb Büsching's 1812 collectionVolks-Sagen, Märchen und Legenden ('Folktales, Fairy Tales and Legends')
"The Goatherd" translated byWilliam John Thoms forThe Original (1832) – also translated via Büsching'sVolks-Sagen, Märchen und Legenden (1812)
"Karl Katz" revised by Taylor from his earlier translation, forGammer Grethel (1839) – the main character's name is changed from "Peter Klaus" to "Karl Katz"
"The Goatherd" translated byBenjamin Thorpe forYule-Tide Stories (1853)
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