In Paradise: A Novel. Vol. I.

A midsummer Sunday in 1869 finds Munich bathed in the lingering heat of a recent storm. The city’s bells fade into silence as a lone bronze maiden—still perched on her granite pedestal—watches the world below, while birds flit among the statues that guard the quiet suburb. The air is thick with the scent of freshly cut meadow and the faint perfume of varnish and turpentine, hinting at a place where creation outweighs daily routine.

Beyond the bustling streets, a modest house shelters an artist’s sanctuary. Its windowless southern wall faces a yard strewn with marble and sandstone blocks, while the northern side opens onto a narrow garden that shields the studio’s light. From this secluded space drifts the hesitant melody of a flute, echoing the restless imagination of those who work within. The scene sets the stage for a tale of ambition, longing, and the delicate balance between the pursuit of beauty and the pull of ordinary life.