
Ekkehard (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Historical Novel - A Tale of the Tenth CenturyBy Joseph Victor von ScheffelLength17h 59m
About this audiobook
Ekkehard is a richly textured historical novel set in tenth-century Swabia, moving between the monastic learning of St. Gall and the worldly court of Duchess Hadwig at Hohentwiel. Scheffel blends romance, antiquarian detail, comedy, and heroic episode, including the threat of Magyar incursions, to evoke the tensions between cloister and court, scholarship and desire, Latin culture and Germanic vitality. Its style belongs to nineteenth-century German historicism: erudite, picturesque, affectionate toward the Middle Ages, yet enlivened by irony and narrative charm. Joseph Victor von Scheffel, born in Karlsruhe in 1826, was trained in law but drawn irresistibly to literature, history, and medieval sources. His scholarly interests, travels, and acquaintance with archival culture shaped his imaginative reconstruction of the past. Writing in an era fascinated by national origins and medieval identity, Scheffel transformed historical learning into accessible fiction, giving German readers a vision of cultural continuity that was both patriotic and humane. This book is recommended to readers who enjoy historical fiction grounded in research but animated by wit, atmosphere, and emotional nuance. Ekkehard rewards those interested in medieval monastic culture, German Romantic afterlives, and the nineteenth-century invention of the historical imagination.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.6 (25)
Includes Goodreads
GenreRomance, Historical Fiction
Length17 hrs 59 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 7, 2021
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Letters from Switzerland and Travels in Italy (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5VOLUME 1
Show all chaptersShow less
6PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR.
7THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
8CHAPTER I. Hadwig, the Duchess of Suabia.
9CHAPTER II. The Disciples of St. Gallus.
10CHAPTER III. Wiborad the Recluse.
11CHAPTER IV. In the Monastery.
12CHAPTER V. Ekkehard's Departure.
13CHAPTER VI. Moengal.
14CHAPTER VII. Virgilius on the Hohentwiel.
15CHAPTER VIII. Audifax.
16CHAPTER IX. The Woman of the Wood.
17CHAPTER X. Christmas.
18CHAPTER XI. The old Man of the Heidenhöhle.
19CHAPTER XII. The Approach of the Huns.
20CHAPTER XIII. Heribald and his Guests.
21CHAPTER XIV. The Battle with the Huns.
22VOLUME 2
23CHAPTER XV. Hadumoth.
24CHAPTER XVI. Cappan gets married.
25CHAPTER XVII. Gunzo verso Ekkehard.
26CHAPTER XVIII. Master Spazzo the Chamberlain's Mission.
27CHAPTER XIX. Burkhard the Cloister-Pupil.
28CHAPTER XX. The old German Legends.
29CHAPTER XXI. Rejection and Flight.
30CHAPTER XXII. On the Wildkirchlein.
31CHAPTER XXIII. On the Ebenalp.
32CHAPTER XXIV. The Song of Waltari.
33CHAPTER XXV. The last Echo, and End.
34Analysis
35Reflection
36Memorable Quotes