by Thomas Mann
First published 1999
In the shadowed halls of a medieval monastery, Gregory—born of an incestuous union between siblings—seeks redemption for his family's darkest sin. Raised in isolation and tormented by his origins, he becomes a priest whose profound spiritual journey transforms his inherited shame into a quest for divine grace. When his true parentage threatens to destroy everything he has built, Gregory must navigate the razor's edge between religious devotion and personal survival. His path winds through confession, exile, and ultimate understanding, challenging the boundaries between human frailty and spiritual redemption.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
Setting: Germany
Period: 19th-Century
229 pages · Paperback · Vintage Classics
Content warnings: incest