The Worel family
The Worel family is a frame story by Ferdinand von Saar , 1905 . First published in two parts in January 1905 in the Neue Wiener Tagblatt , it was included in Saar's "Novellas from Austria".
content
The frame narrator is sitting with Count Erwin in the palace's salon when a valet brings news of the workers' unrest in the city. There has been bloodshed. Olga Worel is also among the victims. To the astonishment of the narrator, the count confides in him that he once wanted to marry this girl. Now the count tells.
Internal narration
Before he has to move to Italy with his regiment, the count, the prince's younger brother, meets the daughter of the Worel servant family in a gazebo. Overwhelmed by the passion, the two young people embrace. But this youth flirtation doesn't last long. The count forgets Olga. He later became envoy in Madrid. There he falls unhappily in love with a married woman. He returns home on vacation, determined to marry Olga and retire. But a lot has changed. The Worels no longer wanted to be content with their servant relationship and moved to the city. From a conversation overheard by chance, the count learns that Olga has nothing to do with him. So he goes back to Madrid. When he comes back years later, he learns that the Worels are in great need. The son has failed, Olga's husband is in prison, she has two children. And when their parents had another child, they turned to the prince for financial help. The count brought them 300 guilders and was able to get to know the situation. After the visit he learns from old Frau Worel that Olga is now the lover of a socialist. That connection finally cost her her life.
supporting documents
- ↑ Neues Wiener Tagblatt, 39 (1905) # 6, 1–5 and # 7, 1–3. (January 6 and 7, 1905)