What would you like to read?Search books, authors, genres, shelves, users...
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What would you like to read?Search books, authors, genres, shelves, users...
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Zacharias Topelius
Translated by Helmi Krohn
A historical novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds during the reign of King Gustav III of Sweden, exploring the lives of the Drakenhjelm family and the social dynamics of their time. The central figures include the old Baron Magnus Drakenhjelm and his housekeeper, Lisette, whose interactions reveal the complexities of class, loyalty, and the decline of nobility. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to a scene in the harsh winter of 1838, where a weary traveler, Lotta, and her blind grandmother are trapped on the icy expanse of Lake Näsijärvi. Their journey becomes arduous due to a weary horse and increasingly dark and threatening surroundings. Meanwhile, the narrative hints at the historical backdrop by shifting to the ancestral home of the Drakenhjelm family, where the aging Baron Magnus finds himself in a dilapidated mansion filled with remnants of former glory. The opening chapters set up the contrast between the baron's fading aristocracy and the emerging social realities, preparing for deeper explorations of character and theme as the story unfolds.
