Chapters

Description

This volume gathers a lively cross‑section of German short fiction from the turn of the twentieth century, bringing together works that were once celebrated in the renowned Novellenschatz collections. The editors have chosen stories that illustrate the breadth of the period’s literary imagination—from historic dramas and sea adventures to intimate portraits of everyday life—offering listeners a taste of the era’s language and concerns.

Among the pieces you’ll hear, Conrad Ferdinand Meyer’s “Das Amulet” opens with a curious charm that seems to bind the fate of its owner, while Ernst von Wildenbruch’s “Archambauld” follows a young officer confronting the harsh realities of military service. Friedrich Spielhagen’s “Breite Schultern” introduces a compassionate heroine whose strength is tested by social expectations, and Detlev von Liliencron’s “Greggert Meinstorff” begins with a tense encounter on a remote road that hints at deeper conflicts. Each novella is presented in a clear, faithful reading that lets the original rhythm of the German prose shine through.

Details

Language

de

Duration

~4 hours (235K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Release date

2018-11-18

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the authors

Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

1825–1898

Known for rich historical novellas and vivid narrative poems, this Swiss writer brought the past to life with sharp drama and psychological depth. His work helped make him one of the major German-language authors of the 19th century.

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Detlev von Liliencron

Detlev von Liliencron

1844–1909

A major voice in German poetry, he was known for vivid, modern-feeling verse shaped by military life, travel, and hard personal experience. His work helped move German lyric poetry toward a leaner, more immediate style.

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Friedrich Spielhagen

Friedrich Spielhagen

1829–1911

A major voice in 19th-century German fiction, he wrote sweeping novels about politics, society, and personal ideals. His books helped shape the German social novel and brought big public questions into lively, character-driven stories.

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Ernst von Wildenbruch

Ernst von Wildenbruch

1845–1909

Remembered for stirring historical dramas and patriotic verse, this German writer and diplomat was a major literary figure in the late 19th century. His work helped bring him wide popularity on the German stage and in print.

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