Bertha Garlan

Set in the early 20th century, the story follows Bertha Garlan, a widow from a small town, who reunites with her childhood love, violin virtuoso Emil Lindbach, in Vienna. This encounter sparks a fleeting hope for Bertha to break free from her constrained provincial life, exploring themes of nostalgia, love, and the desire for a more vibrant existence. The novel, originally published in a literary magazine, delves into the complexities of human emotions and the societal limitations faced by women of the time.