Varieties of Telling

Each of the three volumes Erasmus Francisci’s Acerra Exoticorum (1672-74), a collection stories and reports from all corners known world, begins with Vorrede to reader. These texts address rationale for his work, apologize errors in spelling and/or meaning, outline thinking about histories, or more precisely, difference between current events histories proven true by test time. tomes offers over gathered arranged without any easily perceptible organizing principle. Still, some narratives do suggest teaching moralizing function, while others seem serve mostly inform entertain introducing reader »meldungswürdige Sitten/ Gewonheiten / so wol als andrer anmercklicher Sachen außheimischer Sachen,« as truthfully historically accurate possible. Francisci presents receptacle outside Germany. He will old new »Ordnungen und Gewohnheiten,« corroborated writings trusted authors. While paying special attention programmatic Vorreden Acerra-volumes, I examine how handles both textual narrative varieties, news historical texts, what this tells us historical, cultural, geographic reach.