
In a world of glittering salons and whispered gossip, a proud family gathers to discuss the future of their daughter, Gundula. The elder courtier, with his sharp eyes and a crumbling foot, extols the virtues of the handsome, wealthy Count Friedrich Karl of Hohen‑Esp, insisting that his noble bearing makes him the perfect match. Yet the young, composed Agathe sees a different picture: a charismatic playboy whose love of cards and lavish living threatens to ruin not only his reputation but the stability of any household he joins. Their debate unfolds amid the opulent backdrop of aristocratic life, where honor, fortune, and the allure of romance clash with the stark realities of excess.
Through witty repartee and pointed observations, the novel paints a vivid portrait of a society teetering between tradition and indulgence. As the characters weigh love against prudence, listeners are drawn into the delicate dance of expectation and desire, setting the stage for choices that could reshape the fortunes of both families.
Language
de
Duration
~11 hours (643K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Norbert H. Langkau, Matthias Grammel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2019-11-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1860–1939
A bestselling German novelist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, she wrote popular historical and society novels under the name Nataly von Eschstruth. Her books were known for romance, aristocratic settings, and dramatic storytelling that appealed to a wide readership.
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