
Three adventurous friends find themselves in Berlin on the brink of a world-shaking conflict. Their leisurely summer tour—filled with elegant hotels, concerts, and ice ballets—suddenly collides with the looming threat of war as political tensions flare across the continent. While sipping tea in the grand Adlon lobby, they hear rumors of diplomatic breakdowns and watch the city’s atmosphere tighten like a drawn‑tight string.
Determined to escape the uncertainty, the women scramble to secure passage home, confronting closed ship manifests, bank hurdles, and the frantic rush of crowds on the streets. Their plans shift from a calm cruise to a daring overland trek, as they navigate a landscape that is rapidly turning hostile. The narrative captures the mix of optimism, anxiety, and quick‑thinking that defines their first days of crisis, offering a vivid glimpse into the personal side of history’s turning point.
Language
en
Duration
~31 minutes (30K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2010-01-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
A sharp, lively firsthand voice guides readers through a tense journey across Europe at the outbreak of World War I. Best known for a rare autobiographical travel narrative, this author turns confusion, danger, and absurdity into an engaging historical adventure.
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