Hüben und Drüben; Erster Band (1/3) Neue gesammelte Erzählungen

In the autumn of 1848 a solitary mother arrives in the modest village of Osterhagen, bringing with her two young children and a quiet determination to rebuild her life. Though her past remains veiled, her skillful needlework quickly earns her a modest reputation, stretching from the village to the nearby town. The woman, who calls herself Frau Edmund, lives in a humble cottage at the edge of the settlement, keeping to herself while caring devotedly for her daughter Valerie and son George.

The community watches the newcomer with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, especially when she frequents an unmarked grave that no one can identify. Her children, caught between the foreign cadence of their mother’s speech and the local dialect, face teasing at school, prompting Frau Edmund to teach them at home. Tragedy strikes early when young George falls ill and dies in his mother’s arms, casting a somber shadow over the family’s fragile hopes.

Amid the rustic backdrop and subtle mysteries, the story explores themes of displacement, resilience, and the quiet strength of a mother striving to protect her children in an unfamiliar world.