Achtzehn Töchter: Eine Frauen-Novelle

A baroness‑type narrator reflects on the uneasy feeling of being both owner and captive of his own estate, his livestock, and the people who depend on him. He likens himself to a shepherd, watching over his “little herd” of relatives while wrestling with the pretensions of polite society. The opening sketches a world where language, power, and duty collide, hinting at the fragile balance between authority and compassion.

When his mother imposes strict conditions for a new home—seeking a place untouched by foreign armies and free from the scars of past wars—her son must navigate family history, lingering grief, and the looming presence of his numerous sisters. Their intertwined fates set the stage for a household where expectations clash with personal desire, promising a thoughtful exploration of gender, inheritance, and the ties that bind a large family together.