World’s Story Volume VII: Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland

This volume of The World's Story sweeps through the rich cultural heritage of three remarkable nations. The German section immerses readers in the Nibelungen saga, the epic retelling of Siegfried, dragon-slayer and hero, whose tragic fate ripples through Germanic mythology like ripples through water. Here too are the Dutch masters, whose paintings come alive through detailed exploration of their technique and meaning. And then there is Switzerland's most beloved legend: the apple-shooting episode from Schiller's William Tell, that perfect crystallization of resistance against tyranny. This is not dry history but living story, the kind that shaped national identities and continues to resonate centuries later. For anyone seeking to understand how these nations saw themselves and were seen by others, this volume offers an unparalleled window into the art, literature, and spirit of Germanic Europe.