
The opening sweeps listeners into a living map of early‑modern Germany, where roads pulse like veins across the landscape. Caravans of post wagons, humble carts, scholarly messengers, wandering monks and flamboyant courtiers all converge, each bearing their own hopes, secrets, and burdens. This kaleidoscope of travelers—merchants, alchemists, pilgrims, and even displaced families—paints a vivid portrait of a world in constant motion, where every clatter of wheels hints at stories waiting to unfold.
Amid this bustling tide appears Duke Eberhard Ludwig, a corpulent, imposing figure whose measured steps contrast with the hurried traffic. He carries the weight of personal and political discord, lingering on unresolved farewells to his wife and the tangled whispers of court intrigue. As he pauses beneath a soft rain, the listener senses the tension between duty and desire, setting the stage for a tale that weaves together power, passion, and the restless currents of a changing realm.
Language
de
Duration
~18 hours (1045K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Germany: Drei Masken, 1925.
Credits
Jens Sadowski and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2023-02-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1884–1958
A major voice of German exile literature, he turned the political upheavals of the 20th century into vivid historical novels. His work often blends sharp social insight with page-turning drama.
View all booksby Lion Feuchtwanger