First published 2018
Count Egmont moves through the Spanish-occupied Netherlands as both a beloved nobleman and a marked man. The Spanish authorities view his popularity with suspicion while his fellow citizens look to him for leadership against oppression. Egmont finds himself torn between his love for the common people and his loyalty to the crown, between his desire for a peaceful life and the political forces pulling him toward rebellion. His relationship with Klärchen, a young woman from the burgher class, offers moments of personal happiness amid the growing political storm. As Spanish repression intensifies under the Duke of Alba's rule, Egmont must choose whether to flee to safety or remain with his people. The count's fatal combination of noble idealism and political naivety drives him toward a confrontation that will test both his principles and his courage. This reproduction captures Schiller's exploration of individual conscience against political necessity.
Genres: drama, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, political-idealism
Setting: Spain, Netherlands
Period: 16th-century
340 pages · Paperback · Palala Press