On a dark ground

On a dark ground is a story by Wilhelm Raabe , which was written in the early autumn of 1860 within just under two weeks and which appeared in Westermann's monthly magazine in July 1861 . The sketch was published in book form in 1934 by Hermann Klemm in Berlin.

content

Miss Meta Eisen mourns her brother. Ludwig was affected by a duel with Meta's fiancé, the lawyer Dr. Eugen Illiger, died. Just as Meta used to love Eugene, she hates him now. Meta wants revenge. So she approaches Eugen's heavily pregnant wife Marie Illiger. After Meta has put her innocent victim in the picture, the woman gives birth to a sick boy, half unconscious, and dies.

Years later, Meta's sister Franziska Wallner dies, leaving behind the 10-year-old orphan Meta Wallner. Meta Eisen welcomes her niece and raises her in a strictly religious manner.

The old maiden Meta Eisen drives the wealthy lawyer Dr. Illiger in ruin. He takes his own life and leaves the 12-year-old lame son Max. Meta Eisen reaches the municipal court to have the orphan Max entrusted to her for upbringing.

Meta Eisen dies years later. The young Dr. med. Max Illiger - he limps a little - marries Meta Wallner.

Used edition

• On a dark ground. A sketch pp. 375–409. With an appendix, written by Karl Hoppe , pp. 516-519 in Karl Hoppe (arr.), Hans Oppermann (arr.): Der heilige Born . A secret . On a dark ground. The black galley . Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2005. Vol. 3 (2nd edition, obtained by Eberhard Rohse ), ISBN 3-525-20107-9 in Hoppe (ed.), Jost Schillemeit (ed.), Hans Oppermann (ed.) , Kurt Schreinert (Ed.): Wilhelm Raabe. Complete Works. Braunschweig edition. 24 vols.

literature

• Cecilia von Studnitz : Wilhelm Raabe. Writer. A biography. 346 pages. Droste Verlag, Düsseldorf 1989, ISBN 3-7700-0778-6

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Edition used, p. 516.
2. ↑ von Studnitz, p. 309, entry 15.
3. ↑ Edition used, p. 517.