Hermann: A Novel

A dense, atmospheric tale opens in a crisp 1870s European town, where a sudden scandal erupts in the lofty residence of Count Arnau. A steward’s suicide and the disappearance of 20,000 thalers spark frantic whispers among the town’s officers, the family physician, and a circle of aristocratic women. The doctor’s hurried departure toward a frail countess hints at tangled loyalties and the fragile health of those who dwell amid privilege and intrigue.

Within the elegantly described drawing‑room, the formidable Präsidentin von Sternfeld—a woman of decisive command—contrasts sharply with her delicate, ailing daughter‑in‑law. Their strained interactions set the stage for a mystery that will probe the boundaries between outward respectability and hidden vice. As the characters wrestle with suspicion and grief, listeners are drawn into a world where appearances mask deeper betrayals, and every whispered conversation could hold the key to uncovering the truth.