Under a Charm: A Novel. Vol. I

A novel written in the late 19th century. The story focuses on the complex relationships within a family grappling with issues of identity, power, and societal expectations, centering on several main characters including Princess Hedwiga Baratowska, her son Leo, and Waldemar Nordeck, her estranged elder son. The narrative promises to explore themes of familial duty and personal struggle against a backdrop of societal change. At the start of the novel, the setting is established in a secluded country house near a fashionable watering place, as Princess Hedwiga waits for the arrival of her brother, Count Morynski. The opening chapters reveal her strong character, displaying both resilience and determination to reclaim her family's honor for her son, Leo. The introduction of Waldemar, her other son living under tumultuous circumstances with a strict guardian, sets the stage for a clash of wills and familial dynamics. The intricate web of relationships, including their ties to the past and the weight of expectations, is highlighted through interactions that oscillate between tenderness and tension, hinting at the larger conflicts to come as they navigate their identities within a changing world.