
A weary traveler arrives on the quiet island of Ufenau, its green hills and shimmering lake offering a brief respite from a restless life of battles. He is greeted by a kindly priest who opens the modest guesthouse, promising shelter and a chance to recover. The island’s simple charm—old oaks, a lone chapel, the soft toll of distant bells—creates a liminal space between war and peace. As night falls, the traveler’s thoughts drift toward the distant sounds of a familiar bell chime, recalling an ancestral home he left long ago.
Inside his small room, he arranges his few possessions: a sword, a feathered quill, and a handful of papers, each a symbol of his dual calling. The swords’ edge and the pen’s ink become a silent contest, reflecting the inner tension between violence and artistry. Through quiet conversation with the priest, he begins to contemplate the deeper purpose of his journeys, hinting at a past woven with duty, loss, and the search for redemption. This opening invites listeners to share in his contemplative pilgrimage before the next chapter of his story unfolds.
Language
de
Duration
~1 hours (78K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1825–1898
Best known for finely crafted historical novellas and memorable narrative poems, this Swiss writer brought the past to life with psychological depth and a cool, elegant style. His work helped make him one of the major German-language authors of 19th-century realism.
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by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer