Nick Tappoli

Set in the quiet riverside town of Eglisau, the novel opens with a vivid portrait of a community that has watched centuries of trade, travel and change flow past its wooden bridge. Through the eyes of a recently deceased Zurich matriarch whose handwritten memoirs were left to a curious writer, the story captures the rhythms of everyday life—wine‑filled evenings in taverns, the bustle of merchants, and the slow fade of river traffic as railways arrive.

The narrator weaves these personal recollections into a broader meditation on memory, ambition and the fragile balance between strength and failure. As the town drifts toward a lingering stillness, the characters grapple with love, loss and the yearning to be understood, offering listeners a richly textured glimpse into a world where history and human desire intersect.