Ausgewählte Schriften

A compact anthology brings together some of the most vivid early stories by a master of German drama. In just a few pages each, the tales turn ordinary settings into stages for moral conflict, sudden violence, and uncanny suspense. Readers will encounter everything from a trembling earthquake in Chile to a desperate duel, all written with the sharp, concise style that made the author a pioneer of Romantic literature.

The opening piece unfolds in the ruins of a once‑grand castle near Locarno, where a frail beggar woman meets a tragic end. When a foreign knight reports an inexplicable nightly noise—footsteps that seem to glide over straw and vanish behind the fireplace—the resident marquis decides to confront the mystery himself. His sleepless vigil promises a chilling glimpse into the thin line between superstition and reality, setting the tone for the collection’s blend of psychological tension and haunting atmosphere.