Die Masken Erwin Reiners : $b Roman

Manfred Dalcroze, a frail but determined young microbiologist, is confronted with a dire medical verdict: his ailing lungs can only be healed by a two‑year stint at sea. Reluctantly, he writes to his brother in Berlin, seeking a place on a German deep‑sea expedition under Professor Uchatius, hoping the work will keep his scientific pursuits alive while satisfying the doctor’s prescription.

He arrives in Vienna just as a telegram confirms Uchatius’s acceptance, then makes his way to the modest home of Virginia, the woman he loves. Their reunion is tinged with his lingering sense of inadequacy and a tender, almost unbearable longing. As they sit together in the quiet autumn afternoon, Manfred’s diary—filled with his observations and hopes—becomes a bridge between his inner world and the life he wishes to share, setting the stage for choices that will test both his heart and his resolve.