The Vulture Maiden
1875 novel by Wilhelmine von Hillern
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The Vulture Maiden (German: Die Geier-Wally. Eine Geschichte aus den Tiroler Alpen) is an 1875 novel by the German writer Wilhelmine von Hillern. It is about Walburga "Wally" Stromminger, a young woman in the Tyrolean Alps, who has a pet bearded vulture and goes through hardships and amorous intrigues. It was inspired by an episode in the life of Anna Stainer-Knittel.[1]
Title page for The Vulture Maiden (1876 edition) | |
| Author | Wilhelmine von Hillern |
|---|---|
| Original title | Die Geier-Wally |
| Language | German |
| Publisher | Deutsche Rundschau |
| Publication date | January–February 1875 |
| Publication place | Germany |
| Pages | 338 |
The novel was serialised in Deutsche Rundschau in January and February 1875 and published as a book in two volumes by Paetel in Berlin the same year. It became highly popular in the German-speaking world. It influenced the popular view of the Alps and has been adapted multiple times for stage and screen, beginning with Hillern's own theatre adaptation in 1880.[1]
Adaptations
- Die Geier-Wally, 1880 play by Wilhelmine von Hillern[2]
- La Wally, 1892 opera composed by Alfredo Catalani[2]
- The Vulture Wally, 1921 German film directed by E. A. Dupont[2]
- La Leggenda di Wally, 1930 Italian film directed by Gian Orlando Vassallo[2]
- La Wally, 1932 Italian film directed by Guido Brignone, based on the opera[2]
- The Vulture Wally, 1940 German film directed by Hans Steinhoff[2]
- The Vulture Wally, 1956 West German film directed by František Čáp[2]
- Die Geierwally, 1984 play, parody of the story[2]
- Die Geierwally, 1987 film directed by Walter Bockmayer, based on the parody play[2]
- Die Geierwally, 2005 Austrian-German television film directed by Peter Sämann[2]
