Die Innerste: Erzählung

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

50445

Title

Die Innerste: Erzählung

Language

de

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in 18th-century Hanover, this tale intertwines the supernatural legend of the treacherous Innerste river with the human drama of a miller's family. Blending folklore with the chaos of the Seven Years' War, the story explores themes of nature's malevolence, the cost of conflict, and the resilience of domestic life against external threats.

Summary up to 500 words

In Wilhelm Raabe's narrative *Die Innerste*, the story begins by personifying three rivers: the Leine, the Ihme, and the Innerste. While the Leine and Ihme are described as flawed, the Innerste is depicted as inherently malicious. Corrupted by industrial pollution and haunted by spirits since the Thirty Years' War, the river is portrayed as wild, treacherous, and bloodthirsty. The narrative focuses on the miller Christian Bodenhagen and his son, Albrecht, who had deserted the Prussian army before returning home in 1759 to marry Lieschen Papenberg. Following the sudden death of Christian from a stroke, the young couple runs the mill alone during the summer of 1760, shortly after the Battle of Liegnitz. Life remains peaceful until Christmas Eve, when the Innerste demands a black chicken as a sacrifice. When the miller refuses, the river's malevolent forces summon marauding soldiers from the warring armies of France and Prussia. These soldiers, clad in a patchwork of uniforms, attack the mill in the dead of night. A fierce battle ensues within the mill and across the frozen river. The defenders, led by the young Albrecht and his loyal corporal friend, manage to repel the attackers, though they suffer casualties, including the corporal. The violence concludes with the discovery of a woman's body in the river, confirming the river's deadly nature. The story ends with the death of the corporal and the eventual decline of the mill, reflecting on how the turbulent times and the river's curse have shaped the region's history. Raabe uses this tale to explore the intersection of nature, war, and superstition, illustrating how the environment itself can become an active, hostile force against humanity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• German fiction
• 19th Century Literature