
In a remote village, night falls as a sudden deluge transforms the familiar farmyard into a raging river. Father Johannes, his frightened children, and the determined Christel scramble to secure whatever they can—biblical heirlooms, Sunday clothes, even a goat—while water rushes through the house, threatening to swallow everything. Their frantic efforts turn the humble cottage into a precarious launch pad for a makeshift boat, and the family must decide what is truly essential when the flood forces them onto the swollen waters.
Against a backdrop of clanging church bells and distant cries, the narrative captures the raw terror and quiet heroism of ordinary people confronting nature’s wrath. As they paddle toward higher ground, the story balances the stark desperation of loss with moments of fragile hope, inviting listeners to feel the cold, the darkness, and the stubborn will to survive that drives each character forward.
Language
de
Duration
~2 hours (168K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jens Sadowski
Release date
2012-08-18
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1784–1862
A once-celebrated German poet, novelist, and composer, he built his writing from wide travel, musical study, and a restless curiosity about people and places. His stories and poems were popular in the 19th century, especially after the success of his Greek-themed novella Palmerio.
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