
A widowed noblewoman, newly appointed as prior of a quiet convent, finds her authority tested by the rigid customs of the order and the lingering skepticism of the senior sisters. Protected by a powerful patron, she balances the solemn duties of her office with the tender, sometimes uneasy, presence of her ten‑year‑old son, Otto Heinrich, who visits in his crisp cadet uniform. Their exchanges of letters and brief afternoons together bring a lively, almost mischievous contrast to the hushed corridors and the steady rhythm of tea, knitting, and whispered prayers.
Within the cloister’s vaulted rooms, the prior’s life settles into a pattern of quiet devotion, yet the arrival of each new letter from Otto stirs both hope and anxiety among the older women. As his visits become more frequent, the convent’s routine softens, and the old sisters begin to see the prior not merely as a ruler but as a mother‑figure. Yet the looming demands of military service and the weight of family expectations hint at a turning point that will unsettle the delicate balance of their insulated world.
Language
da
Duration
~24 minutes (23K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1857–1912
A sharp observer of quiet lives and hidden feelings, this Danish writer helped shape literary impressionism. His novels often find drama in small gestures, social pressure, and the loneliness beneath everyday life.
View all books
by Herman Bang

by Herman Bang

by Herman Bang

by Herman Bang

by Herman Bang

by Herman Bang

by Herman Bang

by Herman Bang