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Roman
In the cramped, dimly lit rooms of a Zurich quarter, a young boy awakens to a world of tight staircases, soot‑blackened servants, and the distant clatter of the city’s grand churches. Through his eyes we feel the weight of loss—parents disappearing, siblings taken away by men in somber cloaks—and the uneasy safety of the modest household that stands as his only refuge. The narrative weaves his daily routines, the stark contrast between the bright houses on the hill and the shadowy alleys below, and his restless curiosity about the towering cathedral that looms over every street.
Against this backdrop, the child’s relationship with his mother, the enigmatic “Babeli,” and the quiet moments by the lake provide glimpses of tenderness amid the surrounding hardship. As seasons shift from harsh winter to fleeting summer, his small steps through the market, along the Limmat, and up the steep streets become a silent quest for belonging, hinting at the deeper yearning that will shape his future.
Language
de
Duration
~10 hours (604K characters)
Release date
2025-01-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1868–1952
Best known for short stories and anecdotes, this German writer moved from schoolteaching into a long literary career that brought him a wide readership. His work was once celebrated in Germany, though parts of his legacy are now viewed more critically because of his ties to nationalist thought and the Nazi era.
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