"If Youth but Knew!"

Set against the chaotic aftermath of Napoleon’s empire, the tale follows Jerome, a self‑styled king of a newly‑carved Westphalian realm. He is a flamboyant, impulsive youth whose court borrows Versailles’ sparkle while the surrounding mountains cling to old‑world piety. The story opens with a gentle, almost mystical kiss that hints at the hidden desires and fragile hopes beneath his reckless façade.

As the young ruler flits between lavish parties, political intrigue, and uneasy love affairs, the lives of peasants, scholars, and rival nobles become tangled in his capricious whims. Through witty narration and vivid illustrations, the novel paints a satirical portrait of power misused and the yearning for wisdom that youth often lacks. Listeners will be drawn into a richly textured world where humor and history collide, inviting reflection on the costs of ambition.