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Withered Leaves. Vol. I. (of III) A Novel   By: (1823-1909)

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Transcriber's Notes:

1. Page scan source: Google Books http://books.google.com/books?id=auUBAAAAQAAJ&source

2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe].

OPINION OF THE

SATURDAY REVIEW

ON THE

GERMAN EDITION

OF

WITHERED LEAVES.

"'Withered Leaves' is a highly effective novel, cleverly constructed, full of varied incident, excellently written, and indicating the accomplished literary craftsman on every page."

WITHERED LEAVES.

A Novel,

BY

Rudolf von Gottschall.

FROM THE GERMAN,

By BERTHA NESS.

Translator of Werner's "Riven Bonds" and "Sacred Vows."

THREE VOLUMES.

AUTHORISED TRANSLATION.

VOL. I.

London: REMINGTON AND CO., 5, Arundel Street, Stand, W.C. 1879.

[ All Rights Reserved .]

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

CHAP.

I. On the Fuchs spitze.

II. The Blue Campanula.

III. Dual Love and Evil Repute.

IV. Bathing Pictures.

V. The Amber Merchant.

VI. On Land and Sea.

VII. The Ordensburg.

VIII. On Lago Maggiore.

IX. An Election Dinner.

X. The Proposal.

XI. In Neukuhren.

XII. Under the Pear Tree.

WITHERED LEAVES.

CHAPTER I.

ON THE FUCHS SPITZE.

Large and full stood the moon in the eastern sky, and reflected its broken light in the troubled waves which the Baltic Sea cast upon the coast of Samland; it silvered the tangled thicket of the ravine through which here and there quivered a ray of the woodland stream, with its scanty supply of water, as with difficulty it forced its way amongst the stones onward to the ocean. The primordiate blocks of granite, which kept watch at the estuary of the streamlet, gained a venerable appearance in the light of the planets; but more venerable still appeared the primeval oaks of Perkunos, with their silvery tips, as they rose upon the rocky projection, and down whose lightning struck stems the moonlight glided softly.

Was it a priestess of the old heathen deities who stood there, in her light robe, leaning against the trunk of the mightiest oak, her gaze turned outwards upon the wide sea, whose opposite breakers washed the land of the ancient Vikings? But no! The heathen priestesses, who sacrificed at the oaks of their gods, were venerable women, while that slender figure bore all the witchery of youth, and looked much too gentle for such a horrible craft! So much spiritual tenderness lay in her large, widely opened gazelle like eyes, and besides many, many centuries ago the days of Paganism had passed away, even although then, as now, the waves beat upon the strand, and the tops of the oaks rustled, for we live in the nineteenth century; old Herkus Monte and the other Nathang and Samland leaders of armies have long since been replaced by the commanders of the King of Prussia's regiments and battalions, and for two years this coast, like the whole land of Prussia, has been ruled over by that spirited Hohenzollern Prince, Friedrich Wilhelm IV... Continue reading book >>




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