Nicholas Grindell Book order (chronological)

Tiny and brave—these are the two most striking characteristics of Issun Bo^shi. his mother had longed to have a child for so many years that she finally added “even if it is a very small one” to her wish. when the elderly couple did in fact bear a son, he turned out to be only one inch high. he was thus called Issun Bo^shi, Japanese for one-inch boy. although his parents raised him very lovingly, Issun Bo^shi realized one day that he would not grow any taller. he then left his home to set off on a journey to find his place in the world. Because he saw himself as a swordfighter, a samurai, he made sure to take along the right equip- ment: a needle was his sword, a soup bowl was his boat, and a chopstick was its rudder. as in any proper fairy tale, Issun Bo^shi is tested in several adventures. he handles himself so bravely that, in the end, he is rewarded with just the right princess.

Im Jahr 2003 wurde der Wiener Jugendgerichtshof nach acht Jahrzehnten trotz heftiger Proteste geschlossen. Die Institution ging in anderen Institutionen der Justiz auf, die jugendlichen Häftlinge wurden übersiedelt, das Gebäude im Dritten Wiener Gemeindebezirk wurde ausgeräumt und stand drei Jahre leer. Dieses Haus, seine Verhandlungssäle, vor allem aber seine „Zellen“ und die darin unversehrt erhaltenen zahllosen Inschriften und Graffiti sind Thema dieses Buches: Eva Schlegel und Eva Würdinger dokumentieren mit ihren Fotografien das Haus, wie es heute noch steht, und vergegenwärtigen eine spezielle Jugendgefängniswelt, die aus dem Bewusstsein der Öffentlichkeit ausgeblendet bleibt.