| The 35th of May, or Conrad's Ride to the South Seas | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Erich Kästner |
| Original title | Der 35. Mai oder Konrad reitet in die Südsee |
| Translator | ? |
| Country | Germany |
| Language | German |
| Genre(s) | Children's novel |
| Publisher | New English Library |
| Publication date | 1931 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | 978-0-224-60363-8 |
| OCLC Number | 123753039 |
The 35th of May, or Conrad's Ride to the South Seas (Der 35. Mai oder Konrad reitet in die Südsee in German, its original language) is a novel by Erich Kästner, first published in 1931.
The novel is about Conrad, a young boy, who spends each Thursday afternoon with his uncle, Mr. Ringelhuth. One Thursday — it happens to be the 35th of May — they meet Negro Caballo, who is well-versed in German literature, and at the same time, is the best roller skater in the world. Negro Caballo is a black horse that can speak. Together they enter Uncle Ringelhuth's huge wardrobe, which stands in the hallway and end up in a series of fantasy lands, starting with the land of Cockaigne ("free entry — children half price"), followed by a mediaeval castle complete with jousting, an upside-down world in which children send bad parents to reform school, a science fiction nightmare city with mobile phones and moving walkways, and a south sea island. On his return to the real world, Conrad writes a school essay about his experiences.