Epigraph
"Who ne'er his bread in sorrow ate,
Who ne'er the mournful, midnight hours
Weeping upon his bed has sate,
He knows you not, ye Heavenly Powers."
About This Book
The narrative follows Paul Flemming as he wanders through German landscapes and towns while mourning a personal loss, blending travel description, local legend, and literary reflection. Episodic chapters range from comic sketches and social encounters to meditations on scholarship, fame, and art; recurring set pieces include Rhine scenery, Heidelberg scenes, and alpine excursions. A secondary strand traces the musical agonies of John Kreisler, whose creative intensity and decline illuminate questions about genius, memory, and consolation amid beauty and melancholy.