
The story opens with a lyrical meditation on what it means to be a woman—her passions, duties, and the relentless expectations that shape her every breath. It questions whether love alone can heal the wounds inflicted by a world that often seems to judge rather than understand. Through poetic reflections the narrator weaves together longing, sacrifice, and the quiet rebellion that lives beneath everyday chores.
On a bustling Warsaw avenue, the narrative narrows to a quiet courtyard tucked behind tall, stone façades. Here a young woman stands in a funeral dress, her pallid face a stark contrast to the lively street beyond, while a four‑year‑old girl clings to her hands, trembling yet resilient. Their silent presence hints at a deeper story of loss, hope, and the fragile ties that bind them to the place they call home.
As the first act unfolds, listeners are invited to follow these women’s inner journeys, feeling the weight of tradition and the flicker of yearning that may yet reshape their lives.
Language
eo
Duration
~7 hours (447K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Andrew Sly, Miroslav Malovec and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
Apr 17, 2020
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1842–1910
A major voice of Polish literature during the 19th century, her novels brought questions of women’s lives, education, poverty, and social responsibility into vivid, memorable stories. Best known for Nad Niemnem, she wrote with moral energy and a sharp eye for everyday life under the partitions of Poland.
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