Leliënstad

A novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around a young man named Paulus, who is deeply troubled by the stark contrasts of suffering and opulence in the city he inhabits. With a strong desire for justice and compassion, he feels that salvation may come from the idealized figure of Princess Leliane, who resides above the urban squalor in a regal palace. The opening of ''Leliënstad'' paints a vivid and bleak scene, immersing readers in the harsh realities of a wintery metropolis shrouded in mist and despair. Paulus stands on a bridge, reflecting on the desolation surrounding him, where the poor struggle for survival beneath the indifference of the affluent. He eyes the majestic palace above, feeling a deep yearning for the princess to descend and bring hope and salvation to the suffering masses. The tension escalates as Elias, a friend of Paulus, explains the grim fate of the proletariat, setting the stage for Paulus's quest to seek an audience with the princess to plead for compassion and change in their dire situation.