
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
In the mist‑shrouded wetlands of the Spreewald, a world of quiet rivers, towering pines and age‑old customs lives side by side with the bustling, glittering streets of Berlin. The novel follows a young servant who, torn from her humble, nature‑bound upbringing, is sent to the capital where the demands of city life press heavily upon her modest shoulders. As she navigates the alien rhythms of the metropolis, memories of her green homeland—its folk tales, rituals and the resilient Wends who have guarded their heritage for centuries— linger like a distant song.
Back in the secluded Slavic enclave, life moves to the cadence of ancient myths: rabbits that announce fire, secret blessings hidden in humble gestures, and children sipping sap from birch trees. The narrative paints a vivid portrait of a people whose history is recorded more in legend than in official annals, offering a tender glimpse into their enduring spirit. The first act sets the stage for a gentle clash between two worlds, inviting listeners to feel the pull of both the river’s silence and the city’s restless hum.
Language
de
Duration
~7 hours (428K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Peter Becker and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2016-04-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1873–1932
Best known for warm, widely read stories set in Silesia, this early 20th-century German novelist wrote with deep feeling for landscape, village life, and ordinary people. Before literature became his full path, he worked as a schoolteacher and journalist.
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