Foreword

Among the great works of our literature, there can already be found some excellent original stories. One of the most beautiful is "Karlo" by Edmond Privat. It first appeared in 1909, at which time the author wrote:

"The publisher asked me to write a simple reader for course-students, or beginners who have just finished their learning using a textbook. I intended to present 20 texts arranged in such a manner that in each one there would be many words about a particular topic in everyday life. To better preserve the interest of the student in 20 chapters, I wrote a single story about the life of a youth, from his childhood until his marriage. "The booklet is modestly named: An easy reader for learning Esperanto.

Because of this modest subtitle, not everyone recognized its high literary value at first. The booklet is a short novel; its chapters are 20 jewels of delicate, artistic description of youthful life. Following the model of Dickens, this miniature novel begins with the birth of the hero. We live through childhood, school, and study with him; everything is neatly and concisely described. This brevity, in effect, shows mastery: a single chapter paints onto the pages the entire environment in which our young friend Karlo lived.

The character of the story is one of sweetness, playful seriousness, profound sensitivity and loveable simplicity. The joy of the grandfather at the birth of his grandson is touching; the good grandfather, whose death is the first of Karlo's distresses. He is an ideal person, who says to his grandson, "In every person, there is an angel and a devil. Always speak to the good part of the person, never to the bad." In one touching scene during a Latin lesson, the teacher finds the name of his father carved into the bench; because of his emotion, he cannot punish the current generation.

And the friend! We all know when a friend, whom we look up to as a role model, whom we adore, has an impact on our life and adds value to it. The talent, the love, the profession, we see everything in charming, delicate pictures before our eyes. The book does not have a dramatic conflict, it ends harmoniously with a wonderful journey; let the rest of Karlo and Alice's life be a good journey as well!

The more often you read the book, the more you will like it.

Its Esperanto is very good, simple, elegant, and completely classical."

Marie Hankel